A year since Liu Xiaobo’s Nobel Prize, Beijing hits Norwegian salmon
China strikes at a Norwegian symbol, blaming the country for awarding the Chinese dissident the Nobel peace prize. A year after this recognition, Liu is still in prison in northeastern China. Chinese human rights group calls for his release.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Still smarting from last year’s Nobel Peace Prize for dissident Liu Xiaobo, Chinese authorities have decided to hit back at one of Norway’s symbol: salmon. Over the past year, exports to China are way down.
China a year ago blasted the Nobel committee's decision to honour someone it considered a criminal, saying that it would affect bilateral relations. Indeed, Beijing ordered stricter veterinary controls on Norwegian salmon, making them so time-consuming that fresh fish has ended up rotting in Chinese warehouses.
"We expected our exports to China to increase by 30 to 40 per cent this year," Seafood Navy spokesman Christian Chramer said. Instead, "That didn't happen". In fact, sales of fresh Norwegian salmon to the people’s Republic were halved in the first eight months of the year.
The fall was particularly noticeable immediately after the Nobel Prize ceremony in December 2010. Norway's exports totalled 1,000 tonnes in December, falling to just 315 tonnes in January, then 75 tonnes in February.
The Norwegian government has said it might lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Meanwhile, Liu Xiaobo’s whereabouts remain unknown. The co-author of Charter 08, a manifesto in favour of democracy and religious freedom in China, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2009. Recent reports indicated that he was briefly released in September to attend his father’s funeral at which time he was able to meet his brothers. However, nothing is known about his wife, Liu Xia, who is under house arrest in Beijing without any charges laid against her.
Chinese Human Rights Defender (CHRD), which monitors human rights in China, issued an appeal today for Liu Xiaobo’s release and for an end to his wife’s illegal detention.
Given efforts by Beijing to legalise such practices, change is not likely any time soon.
At the same time, other Nobel Prize laureates should work for his release, the sooner the better, the CHRD said.
China a year ago blasted the Nobel committee's decision to honour someone it considered a criminal, saying that it would affect bilateral relations. Indeed, Beijing ordered stricter veterinary controls on Norwegian salmon, making them so time-consuming that fresh fish has ended up rotting in Chinese warehouses.
"We expected our exports to China to increase by 30 to 40 per cent this year," Seafood Navy spokesman Christian Chramer said. Instead, "That didn't happen". In fact, sales of fresh Norwegian salmon to the people’s Republic were halved in the first eight months of the year.
The fall was particularly noticeable immediately after the Nobel Prize ceremony in December 2010. Norway's exports totalled 1,000 tonnes in December, falling to just 315 tonnes in January, then 75 tonnes in February.
The Norwegian government has said it might lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Meanwhile, Liu Xiaobo’s whereabouts remain unknown. The co-author of Charter 08, a manifesto in favour of democracy and religious freedom in China, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2009. Recent reports indicated that he was briefly released in September to attend his father’s funeral at which time he was able to meet his brothers. However, nothing is known about his wife, Liu Xia, who is under house arrest in Beijing without any charges laid against her.
Chinese Human Rights Defender (CHRD), which monitors human rights in China, issued an appeal today for Liu Xiaobo’s release and for an end to his wife’s illegal detention.
Given efforts by Beijing to legalise such practices, change is not likely any time soon.
At the same time, other Nobel Prize laureates should work for his release, the sooner the better, the CHRD said.
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See also
Nobel Peace Prize goes to an empty chair
10/12/2010
10/12/2010
Liu Xia: ‘I Don't Want to Admit That Xiaobo is Gone'
08/05/2019 16:58
08/05/2019 16:58
