Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 11 april 2017

Philippine courts Norwegian PM Solberg meets with China’s Xi

affirm conviction
of US Marine: AP BEIJING (AP) — Chinese
President Xi Jinping met
with Norway’s prime minis-
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — ter on Monday as the two
A Philippines appeals court countries sought to move
on Monday affirmed a re- beyond a six-year rift fol-
gional trial court’s convic- lowing the awarding of the
tion of a U.S. Marine and his Nobel Peace Prize to an
sentence of up to 10 years imprisoned Chinese dissi-
in jail for killing a transgen- dent.
der Filipino, Meeting in Beijing, Xi com-
whose heirs he was also or- mended Prime Minister
dered to compensate. Erna Solberg for her “hard
The Court of Appeals deci- work” in helping normalize
sion seen Monday did not ties between the countries.
accept Lance Cpl. Joseph It was the first visit from a
Scott Pemberton’s claim of Norwegian prime minister
self-defense in killing Jen- to China in 10 years.
nifer Laude inside a motel “Your visit this time holds a
room in northwestern Olon- lot of significance,” Xi said.
gapo city after they met “This is the first high-level
in a disco bar in October visit since the normalization
2014. of China-Norway relations Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg at
The killing sparked anger in in December.” the Great Hall of People in Beijing, China on Monday April 10, 2017.
the Philippines and reignit- China suspended its bi- (Yohei Kanasashi/Pool Photo via AP)
ed calls by left-wing groups lateral trade deal with
and nationalists for an end Norway and restricted im- document calling for de- of awarding the prize to Liu, Western countries to recog-
to U.S. military presence in ports of Norwegian salmon mocracy. Although the which China deemed as nize the People’s Republic
the country. when the peace prize was peace prize is awarded in interference in its internal of China upon its founding
Pemberton had claimed awarded to Liu Xiaobo in Norway’s capital, Oslo, the affairs.Relations resumed in in 1949. He recalled visit-
Laude molested him in the 2010. Norwegian government after China’s foreign minis- ing Norway on an official
motel room by pretending Liu was sentenced to 11 has no say over the Nobel try said Norway made “ex- trip 38 years ago as a secre-
to be a woman and he years in prison after being panel’s decisions. plicit statements” in support tary to former Vice Premier
had to defend his dignity, convicted of subversion Despite that, Chinese offi- of China’s sovereignty. Geng Biao and said the trip
but that he had no inten- in 2009 for writing and dis- cials demanded that Nor- Xi noted on Monday that had left a deep impression
tion to kill her. seminating Charter ‘08, a way recognize the “error” Norway was one of the first on him.q
He said Laude slapped
him when he confronted China bars wife of detained Taiwan activist from visiting
her for pretending to be a
woman.
But the decision penned GERRY SHIH to check in for her flight that information. Lee Ching-yu Chinese-speaking world —
by Associate Justice Mar- JOHNSON LAI Beijing authorities had can- says her husband suffers had been shut down by
lene Gonzales-Sison said Associated Press celed her Chinese-issued from hypertension and has Chinese authorities in mid-
physical evidence contra- TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The travel permit. Li was hoping asked that medication be 2016, suggesting he had
dicts Pemberton’s claim. wife of a Taiwanese pro-de- to fly to China to demand provided to him. attracted government at-
“As proven by the prose- mocracy activist detained information about her hus- Lee, a college employee tention.
cution, Pemberton did not in China said Monday that band, Lee Ming-che, who who used the WeChat Lee, 42, formerly worked for
leave Laude merely un- she was prevented from fly- has not been heard from social media platform to the Democratic Progres-
conscious, ing to the mainland to seek since March 19. discuss China-Taiwan rela- sive Party, which has advo-
but ensured his death by a visit with her husband, A Chinese official said last tions, is the first Taiwanese cated for Taiwan’s formal
submerging his head in- whose case has inflamed week that Lee was under activist in years to be held independence.
side the toilet bowl,” it tensions between the sides investigation on suspicion by China on security charg- He was due to meet a
said. “Clearly, Pemberton that have already sunk to of endangering Chinese es. His colleagues said his friend in the southern Chi-
intended the natural con- their lowest level in years. national security and was in account on WeChat — a nese province of Guang-
sequence of his wrongful Lee Ching-yu said airline “good physical condition,” mainland China-based dong on March 19 but nev-
act.”q staff told her when she tried but offered no additional service used broadly in the er arrived. q