China exerts Nobel pressure

SEVERAL Western diplomats said China is pressuring European governments to shun the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony next month for imprisoned democracy activist Liu Xiaobo and not to make any statements in support of him.

The Chinese embassy in Oslo has sent official letters to a number of European embassies in the Norwegian capital asking them not to attend the December 10 ceremony, two diplomats in Beijing said.

The letter cited China’s repeated position that Liu is a criminal for his advocacy of widespread political reforms and called the prize an interference in China’s internal affairs, according to one Western diplomat who has seen the letter.

It also urged embassies not to issue any public statements in support of Liu on the day of the ceremony.