Li Shaoman received his doctorate from Princeton University.
By: Jeff Milgram
His friends and colleagues are relieved that Li Shaoman, a Hong Kong-based business professor who received his doctorate from Princeton University, will be set free, but they remain critical of the Chinese government for detaining and prosecuting him.
On Saturday, Dr. Li, 44, a naturalized American citizen, was convicted of spying for Taiwan in a brief closed trial and ordered expelled from China. He has not yet left China.
The resolution of the case which strained relations between Washington and Beijing came as no surprise.
"I think that’s the outcome that many people expected," said Princeton University sociology Professor Gilbert Rozman, who read Dr. Li’s doctoral dissertation.
"It’s not a satisfactory outcome because he did not have access to a proper defense … We don’t know what transpired at the trial," said Dr. Rozman. "At least he’s allowed to leave the country."
Robert Durkee, Princeton’s vice president for public affairs, said, "Our reaction is we’re delighted he’s going to be able to go home. It’s what we thought would happen."
Dr. Li’s trial reportedly began at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, recessed at 1:35 p.m. and the court issued its verdict at 2 p.m. Reporters reportedly were not allowed into the Beijing Intermediate People’s Court, where the trial was held.
Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) welcomed the decision to release Dr. Li.
"While this is a positive development for one family, the entire incident is another sad commentary on the peculiar brand of ‘justice’ that continues to be practiced in China," said Rep. Holt in a printed statement.
"This news is most encouraging, and marks a clear turning point in our quest for Shaomin’s freedom," said Salvatore F. Cordo, an organizer of the Friends of Li Shaomin, in an e-mail message to members of the group. "While we will not be satisfied until he is safely on U.S. soil, after nearly five months of anguish, it appears that Shaomin’s family’s struggle will soon be over and he will once again be free."
The Xinhua News Agency in China said the court had evidence showing that Dr. Li had "accepted tasks from a Taiwan spy organization and collected information for it, which harmed state security in China."
Chinese officials have said that Dr. Li, a professor at the City University of Hong Kong, confessed, but his wife, Liu Yingli, denied that he was a spy.
"The charges brought (against) Dr. Li were vague and unsubstantiated," Rep. Holt said. "Because Dr. Li is the son of a prominent Chinese dissident, Li Honglin, who now resides in Hong Kong, his detention has always raised extremely serious questions of political motivations for the confinement. The Chinese government’s actions in detaining and prosecuting Dr. Li and their continuing flaunting of international human rights laws remain entirely outside the norms of legal and diplomatic conduct."
The decision to expel Dr. Li came a day after Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympics, which has led some people to speculate that China may have put off the conviction until after the vote to avoid drawing attention to its human-rights record.
Chinese officials arrested Dr. Li on Feb. 25, when he entered Shenzhen. On May 15, he was formally charged with spying for Taiwan and his arrest sparked protests from the U.S. State Department and Princeton University, where Dr. Li earned a doctorate in sociology in 1998.
In April, Harold Shapiro, who was then president of Princeton University, wrote to Chinese President Jian Zemin, calling for Dr. Li’s release, saying that "there is great concern that his detention may be related to his academic activity, and this could have a chilling effect on scholarly engagement between the United States and China."
The Chinese are detaining four other scholars with ties to either the United States or Britain and, according to The Chronicle for Higher Education, some overseas Chinese researchers have canceled plans to conduct research or visit relatives in China.
The U.S. State Department is cautioning expatriate Chinese about visiting China if they have been "engaged in activities or published writings critical of Chinese government policies" or have been involved with Taiwan.
Mr. Durkee said the Chinese crackdown on scholars will impact exchange programs with Princeton and other American universities.
"People will be wary about doing work in China," Mr. Durkee said.
Rep. Holt, who spoke at a rally in support of Dr. Li on June 2 at Princeton University, said, "We must continue to urge the Chinese government to promptly resolve the cases of those who have been similarly detained."