Mr. Pompeo on Tuesday slammed the sentencing and called on China to “release her immediately and unconditionally.”
“The Chinese Communist Party has shown once again it will do whatever it takes to silence those who question the party’s official line, even regarding crucial public health information,” the outgoing secretary said.
U.S. officials have repeatedly accused China of covering up information of the COVID-19 outbreak, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan.
“Lying is a feature, not a bug of authoritarian regimes,” Mr. Pompeo continued.
He said Beijing’s “fear of transparency and its ongoing repression of fundamental freedoms are a sign of weakness, not strength, and a threat to all of us.”
China sentences lawyer who reported on outbreak to 4 years
December 29, 2020 GMT
BEIJING (AP) A Chinese court on Monday sentenced a former lawyer who reported on the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak to four years in prison on charges of “picking fights and provoking trouble,” one of her lawyers said.
The Pudong New Area People’s Court in the financial hub of Shanghai gave the sentence to Zhang Zhan following accusations she spread false information, gave interviews to foreign media, disrupted public order and “maliciously manipulated” the outbreak.
Lawyer Zhang Keke confirmed the sentence but said it was “inconvenient” to provide details usually an indication that the court has issued a partial gag order. He said the court did not ask Zhang whether she would appeal, nor did she indicate whether she would.
China sentences former lawyer who reported on COVID-19 outbreak to 4 years
Zhang Zhan was arrested in May amid heavy censorship to deflect criticism of the government’s initial response to the outbreak. Author: Associated Press Updated: 10:05 AM EST December 28, 2020
BEIJING, China A Chinese court on Monday sentenced a former lawyer who reported on the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak to four years in prison on charges of “picking fights and provoking trouble, one of her lawyers said.
The Pudong New Area People’s Court in the financial hub of Shanghai gave the sentence to Zhang Zhan following accusations she spread false information, gave interviews to foreign media, disrupted public order and “maliciously manipulated” the outbreak.
China sentences lawyer who reported on early stage of COVID-19 to 4 years in prison
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Dec 28, 2020 at 7:42 am EDT
A pro-democracy activist stands near the Liaison Office of the Central People s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region department as he holds up a signs in support of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan in Hong Kong, China, on Dec. 28, 2020. EPA/MIGUEL CANDELA
Summary
Zhang Zhan, 37, travelled to Wuhan in February and posted on various social media platforms about the outbreak
Zhan was arrested in May amid tough nationwide measures aimed at curbing the outbreak
Monday, December 28th 2020, 9:06 am
By: CBS News
A Chinese court on Monday sentenced a former lawyer who reported on the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak to four years in prison on charges of picking fights and provoking trouble, one of her lawyers said. The Pudong New Area People s Court in the financial hub of Shanghai gave the sentence to Zhang Zhan following accusations she spread false information, gave interviews to foreign media, disrupted public order and maliciously manipulated the outbreak.
Lawyer Zhang Keke confirmed the sentence but said it was inconvenient to provide details - usually an indication that the court has issued a partial gag order. He said the court didn t ask Zhang whether she would appeal, nor did she indicate whether she would.