China said yesterday it was strongly opposed to accusations of judicial interference made by the European Union and Austria over the execution of Wo Weihan, a man convicted of spying for Taiwan.

"Chinese judicial organs made the verdict and this was completely a matter within Chinese judicial sovereignty," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

The United States has also expressed concerns over Wo's case. Qin said: "The trial procedure was just and fair and the rights of the accused were well protected."

"China is a rule-of-law country and Wo is a Chinese citizen," Qin said. "The evidence of his crime has been verified."

"The accusation against the Chinese judicial authorities intervened brutally into Chinese judicial sovereignty, trampled the spirit of the rule of law, and undermined the basis of the healthy development of the bilateral talks on human rights. We were strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to (the accusation) and urged all concerned parties to immediately correct the mistake and stop the words and actions concerning interventions of other country's judicature," Qin added.

(Shanghai Daily December 2, 2008)