Detained Chinese scholar confesses to crimes: Beijing

Gao and her family were arrested on February 11

In this story: U.S. protests arrests Washington visit RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Rose Tang
CNN.com Writer

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- A United States-based Chinese academic detained for more than five weeks has admitted to criminal offenses, China's Foreign Ministry has said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told a news conference in Beijing Thursday that Gao Zhan had been held for suspected activities that "undermine state security".

Gao, a fellow at the American University in Washington, D.C., was detained along with her husband Xue Donghua and five-year-old son Andrew Xue as they were about to board a flight to the U.S. at Beijing airport on February 11.

They were returning to the U.S. after visiting their family in China.

Sun said Gao's case was under further investigation.

Xue and his son were held separately for 26 days

"The relevant department has acted in straight accordance with law and exercised humanitarianism," Sun added, declining to specify what crimes Gao had confessed to.

Xue said he was held separately from their son for 26 days, and on the first day he asked police to notify the U.S. embassy about the detention of the boy -- an American citizen.

He was released on March 8 to be reunited with Andrew and both have returned to the U.S.. But so far he has not been able to contact Gao.

U.S. protests arrests

Chinese officials say Andrew's parents did not demand that China contact the U.S. embassy

A U.S. embassy official in Beijing said they protested to the Chinese government on Thursday for their failure to notify the embassy about the detention.

The official told CNN that the embassy urged Beijing to release Gao on humanitarian and human rights grounds.

The bilateral consular agreement requires China to notify the United States within four days of the detention of an American citizen, he said.

Sun disputes the allegation.

"The kid's parents have not demanded the Chinese side to notify the U.S. embassy, so there is no question as to the violation of the Consular treaty," he said.

"Her son has not been detained, but rather taken care of in a kindergarten," he said.

Xue said he was also denied rights to see a lawyer and was interrogated numerous times about Gao's social science research and two trips she made to Taiwan.

He said Gao, who holds a PhD in sociology, writes mainly about women's issues.

"So many mainland Chinese have visited Taiwan in the past, including senior officials. What's wrong with her publishing articles and following a delegation to Taiwan?" he said in a statement.

Washington visit

The incident became public as Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen arrived in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to meet President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

New York-based Human Rights in China has sent letters to Bush and Powell calling them to raise Gao's case with Qian.

On Wednesday, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the department had repeatedly raised Gao's case with Chinese authorities.

"We've asked them to release her immediately," he said, adding that he was not aware that any "significant explanation" had been given for her case.

Chinese Foreign Ministry's Sun warned: "We hope that while not being aware of the facts of the situation in this case, media will not make wanton remarks," he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

China detained toddler: U.S embassy
March 21, 2001

Chinese Foreign Ministry
U.S. Embassy in China
U.S. State Department
Human Rights in China

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