BEIJING — Imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a bold stroke that highlighted the economic giant’s continuing repression of free expression — and its toxic distaste for criticism from abroad.
The award came in spite of threats from Chinese officials who attempted to dissuade the judges from honoring Liu, a 54-year-old writer who has remained unbowed in his decades-long fight for freedom of expression and democratic reform.
Liu’s writings have brought him long stints in prison, labor camp and house arrest, and have stripped him of the right to publish or teach in China.
“The campaign to establish universal human rights . . . in China is being waged by many Chinese, both in China and abroad,” said Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland. “Liu has become the foremost symbol for this wide-ranging struggle.”
The Chinese government, which often wields its economic might to quash criticism of widespread human- rights abuse, finds itself in the uncomfortable position of holding a Nobel laureate prisoner. On Friday, defiant officials in Beijing called the award a “blasphemy” and warned that relations with Oslo would be damaged in retaliation, summoning Norway’s ambassador in Beijing to lodge a protest.
“Liu Xiaobo is a convicted criminal who broke Chinese law,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. “If the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to such a person, it absolutely disobeyed the spirit of this prize and it is a blasphemy to the prize.”
Liu was most recently imprisoned last year after helping to write and publish a demand for reform that infuriated the Communist Party. Signed by hundreds of critics across China, the now-banned manifesto, known as Charter 08, called for an end to single-party rule and for the establishment of a democracy marked by rule of law and human rights.
Liu was convicted of inciting subversion against the state and trying to overthrow the government, and sentenced to 11 years behind bars. Nine years remain in his sentence.
Some observers hoped aloud that the government would be compelled to look for face-saving opportunities to release Liu ahead of schedule.
“We’d like the government to set him free. It wouldn’t even be too bad if they’d let him travel to receive the award and then exile him, like they used to do in the Soviet Union,” said Dai Qing, an outspoken activist.
Quotes
“I think this prize doesn’t only belong to Liu Xiaobo one person, but also for all the people in China who advocate democracy, freedom and peace.”
Liu Xia, wife of Liu Xiaobo
“Liu Xiaobo is a criminal who has been sentenced . . . for violating Chinese law. The Nobel committee’s decision to award such a person the peace prize runs completely counter to the principle of the prize and also desecrates the prize.”
Ma Zhaoxu, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry
“Last year, I noted that so many others who have received the award had sacrificed so much more than I. That list now includes Mr. Liu, who has sacrificed his freedom for his beliefs.”
President Barack Obama
