China warns states not to support Nobel dissident
Liu Xiaobo: Jailed for 11 years in December 2009
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China has warned that there will be "consequences" if governments show support for jailed Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo at the award ceremony.
Vice-Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said the prize was highly politicised and "a challenge to China's judicial system".
Diplomats in Oslo said China's embassy had sent letters implicitly warning them not to attend the prize-giving.
Liu was jailed in December for subversion after calling for sweeping political reform in China.
China angrily condemned the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the dissident. It has said the award was tantamount to "encouraging crime".
'Political tool'
"The choice before some European countries and others is clear and simple: do they want to be part of the political game to challenge China's judicial system or do they want to develop a true friendly relationship with the Chinese government and people?" Cui Tiankai said.
"What image do they want to leave for ordinary Chinese people? So, in my view, they are facing such a choice. They have to make the choice according to their own judgement," Mr Cui said.
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