State Department Daily Press Briefing about Charles Li March 14, 2003

Daily Press Briefing
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 14, 2003

[...]
CHINA

21-23 Arrest of Charles Lee and Update on his Trial
...

QUESTION: Yeah. The US citizen, Charles Li, Beijing has picked up a trial date for him, which is March 21st. Since we know in China the lawyers are ordered by the Chinese Bureau of Justice to keep in strict accordance [with] the Central Government policy [in] any case related to Falun Gong, and that China's Central Government is known for its brutal persecution of Falun Gong in the past over three years, the question is, how can the US Government, how can we make sure that our citizen will face a fair trial in this case?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, that gets to a lot of broader issues which we address on an annual basis in our human rights report. The Chinese judicial system is not one where we can guarantee that American citizens would get a fair trial.

On the other hand, we do try to help American citizens in these kind of circumstances. We have been working with Mr. Li. We have been talking to him and keeping in touch, monitoring the circumstances very closely. We do provide regularly a list of Chinese lawyers, a list of lawyers in China that are available to represent him if he chooses to retain one of those lawyers. And we've also provided him with information about the Chinese legal system so he can understand what he faces.

He is charged with damaging radio and television equipment. The Chinese Government has authorized him to have legal representation in accordance with Chinese law. We have had numerous contacts with the Chinese authorities regarding his welfare and the progress of the legal proceedings, and we'll continue to do that, as well.

QUESTION: A follow-up?

MR. BOUCHER: Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: Yeah. Do you think he is held, as, actually as a hostage at this time because our government is so busy with the war and the Chinese Government is rush[ing] him through this show trial in a sense?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't want to make judgments like that. The -- an American citizen is being held. We've made quite clear our interest in his welfare. We have tried to do everything possible with him, expressed our concerns very directly to the Chinese Government about him; and our interest is in his welfare and his wellbeing.

[...]
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QUESTION: On the Charles Li case, somewhat related. Does the US plan to submit a China resolution this year at the Geneva talks?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't have anything at this point. I think the session opens in a week or two.

QUESTION: Are you --

MR. BOUCHER: Tuesday, I think, but anyway --

QUESTION: Yeah, Tuesday.

MR. BOUCHER: And we'll tell you when we decide what to do.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2003/18742.htm