WASHINGTON (AFP) The United States on Friday welcomed the release from prison of Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei but voiced deep concern over China's broader crackdown on critics.
"We are very pleased with the release of Ai Weiwei, and we welcome that step," Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told reporters.
"However, the United States continues to be deeply concerned by the trend of forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions and convictions of public interest lawyers, writers, artists, intellectuals and activists in China for exercising their internationally recognized human rights," he added.
"We are very pleased with the release of Ai Weiwei, and we welcome that step," Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told reporters.
"However, the United States continues to be deeply concerned by the trend of forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions and convictions of public interest lawyers, writers, artists, intellectuals and activists in China for exercising their internationally recognized human rights," he added.
