BEIJING – China has executed Wo Weihan, a businessman accused of spying for Taiwan, despite a last-ditch effort by his daughters to appeal for clemency through diplomatic channels.
The execution was condemned by the European Union, which had raised Wo’s case during a meeting in Beijing yesterday on human rights, and by the United States, which had sought a stay on grounds of lack of due process.
“This execution seriously undermines the spirit of trust and mutual respect required for this EU-China dialogue on human rights,” said a statement from the presidency of the EU, held by France.
The strong words from the EU came at the end of a week in which Beijing cancelled an EU-China summit in protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to meet the Dalai Lama next month.
Wo’s execution by gunshot yesterday morning was confirmed through the Austrian embassy in Beijing. – (Reuters)
