Nobel head says Liu’s prize based on ‘universal values’

THE Nobel Peace Prize panel defended its award to jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo as based on “universal values,” rejecting Beijing’s accusation that it is trying to force Western ideas on China.

China maintained its combative tone ahead of today’s prize ceremony in Oslo, and announced the award of its own Confucius Peace Prize to former Taiwan vice-president Lien Chan, though his office said he was unaware of the award.

China jailed Liu last Christmas Day for 11 years for subversion of state power and for being the lead author of Charter 08, a manifesto calling for democratic reform in the one-party state.