China’s Nobel laureate liu Xiaobo died after losing his battle with terminal cancer, remaining in custody under guard in hospital until his last breath as Beijing faced a wave of criticism over its treatment of the Tiananmen Square protest veteran.
China bears a “heavy responsibility” for the death of liu, the Nobel Committee said yesterday, less than two months after the 61-year-old was transferred to hospital from prison.
International human rights groups, Western governments and Chinese activists had urged authorities to free liu and grant his final wish to be treated abroad.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel hailed liu as a “courageous fighter for human rights”, while British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it was “wrong” China did not allow liu to travel overseas for treatment.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on China to free liu’s widow, who has been under house arrest since 2010 but was allowed to be at the hospital as he said his final goodbye.