Xi Jinping has been tightening his grip on power by stifling dissent, sending a number of critics to prison. But as China’s economic influence has grown, the U.S. and other countries have avoided openly challenging Beijing on its human-rights record. BEIJING—A prominent activist who called himself the “Super Vulgar Butcher” as he mocked and pressured Chinese officials was given an eight-year prison sentence Tuesday for subversion, the harshest sentence handed down in a sweeping crackdown on rights campaigners. 2 Intermediate People’s Court handed down the sentence after finding activist Wu Gan guilty of subverting state power. Mr. Wu will appeal the sentence, his lawyer Ge Yongxi told the Associated Press.

Source: Wall Street Journal December 26, 2017 05:36 UTC