Chinese authorities have barred five Western diplomats from visiting the widow of the late Nobel laureate dissident Liu Xiaobo, diplomatic sources said today. The diplomats' visit came following increased concern in recent days about Liu Xia's psychological health. Despite the daily restrictions and surveillance faced by Liu Xia, Chinese authorities still maintain she is free. When asked earlier this month about western diplomatic calls for Liu Xia to travel abroad, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters: "But Liu Xia is a Chinese citizen. Liu Xiaobo was a veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and was detained in 2008 after co-authoring Charter 08, a petition calling for democratic reforms.

Source: dna May 13, 2018 13:07 UTC