AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 25 July 2001, China granted Dr. Gao Zhan medical parole and allowed her to leave the country. After 166 days in detention, a jubilant Dr. Gao finally arrived in the United States. Dr. Gao was convicted a day earlier in a closed trial of collecting intelligence for Taiwan and sentenced to ten years in prison. Her lawyers requested the medical parole as she suffers from a heart ailment.

On 25 July 2001, China also deported Dr. Li Shaomin. Dr. Li, a professor of marketing at the City University of Hong Kong, was detained on 25 February 2001, after crossing the border into mainland China. He was convicted of spying and ordered to be expelled from China on 15 July 2001. After visiting his family in the U.S., he plans to return to Hong Kong.

During Dr. Li's trial, a deposition by Dr. Gao was submitted as evidence. This is the first time that the cases were explicitly linked. However, Dr. Gao's lawyer described the interaction of the two individuals as academically collegial. What appears to have been in question is photocopies of books and magazines on Taiwan-China relations that Dr. Gao gave to Dr. Li. Her attorney stated that none of the material was marked sensitive or would damage China's national security.

Dr. Gao met with her lawyer on 10 July 2001, which was her first contact with the outside world since her arrest on 11 February 2001. Her husband was denied a visa to travel to China to attend her trial and U.S. consular officials were also unable to observe the trial. There are concerns that Dr. Gao's trial did not meet international standards of fairness. Human Rights Watch has characterized the trial as a "miscarriage of justice from the beginning." Dr. Gao was held for 40 days without charge and only allowed to see her lawyers days before her trial. There is also a concern that any confession she may have made during her detention was under duress. Dr. Gao's lawyer stated that the government failed to prove that Dr. Gao was a spy for China.

Both scholars appeared to be cautious in talking to reporters. Dr. Gao stated that she was choosing her words carefully so as not to jeopardize any of her relatives still in China. However, Dr. Gao and Dr. Li both expressed their happiness to be reunited with their loved ones and their relief that their ordeals are over. Dr. Gao stated that her "firm belief in her innocence" sustained her through her detention. Dr. Li told reporters, "I feel great to be home and reunited with my family and see all of my friends. It was a long journey home."

(Sources of information for this case include Human Rights Watch, the Washington Post, and the Washington Times.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

No action is necessary at this time. Many thanks to those who sent appeals.

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