The activist, well-known in China for his fight against AIDS, could get as much as five years in prison for subversion against the state. His wife and four-month daughter are under house arrests. For China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, the issue would be handled according to the law.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Hu Jia, a well-known Chinese AIDS activist, has gone on trial today behind closed doors. Some Western diplomats who tried to enter the courtroom were turned away. He is charged with inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system and could get as much five years. Mr Hu’s wife is under house arrest with their four-month old daughter and could not attend the hearing.

Hu was arrested last 29 December after two years under house arrest. More than 30 police officers entered his house in a Beijing suburb and took him away.

At present his wife Zeng Jinan is guarded by ten police officers and cannot even walk in private in her garden with her daughter.

Some friends of the couple have appealed against the child’s detention because she might develop deformities as a result of nutritional problems.

The charges against Hu relate to interviews he gave to foreign media and political articles that he wrote for the Internet, the activist’s lawyer Li Fangping said. But other than that he has not done anything wrong. However, according to Article 105 of China’s Criminal Code sending sensitive state information is a crime.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, when asked to comment on his case at a news conference at the close of the People’s National Congress, said that issues like Hu’s trial would be handled according to the law.

“As for critics' view that China is trying to increase its efforts to arrest dissidents ahead the Olympic Games, I think all these accusations are unfounded,” Wen said.

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