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Monday, February 10, 2003

A Chinese court convicted U.S.-based dissident Wang Bingzhang on spying and terrorism charges today and sentenced him to life in prison, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Wang, 55, was arrested after police said they found him tied up in a temple July 3. However, pro-democracy activists suggested he was abducted in Vietnam by Chinese agents after he secretly met with Chinese labor leaders in Hanoi.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the Chinese Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment.

Wang's daughter, who lives in San Gabriel, Calif., said the family did not know what its next step would be.

Wang Bingzhang, a Chinese citizen, has permanent residency status in the United States.