OSLO, (Reuters) – China broadened its retaliation against Norway yesterday for the selection of a Chinese dissident for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, cancelling a second cabinet-level meeting and a Norwegian cultural event in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a news conference in Beijing the award to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo last week showed a lack of respect for China’s judicial system and damaged ties between the two countries.
In Oslo, the Nobel Committee said it would be “delighted” for Liu’s wife to accept the award at a ceremony on Dec. 10 in Oslo if Liu, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence for “subverting” the Chinese state, were prohibited from travelling.
