China was strongly opposed to the accusation of the European Union and Austria over its execution of Wo Weihan, a man spying for Taiwan.

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

He made the statement in response to a reporter's questions: The EU and Austria expressed strong dissatisfaction over Wo's execution in their statement. China's action undermined the mutual trust and mutual respect of human rights talks and would lead to severe effects on human rights talks. The US 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.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2008)