China ramps up Nobel retaliation

China broadened its retaliation against Norway yesterday for the selection of a Chinese dissident for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, cancelling a second cabinet-level meeting and a Norwegian cultural event in China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said the award to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo last week showed a lack of respect for China's judicial system and damaged ties between the two countries.

In Oslo, the Nobel Committee said it would be "delighted" for Liu's wife to accept the award at a ceremony on 10 December in Oslo if Mr Liu, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence for "subverting" the Chinese state, were prohibited from travelling.

The US embassy in Beijing urged China to lift any restrictions on Mr Liu's wife, Liu Xia, who has claimed she is under house arrest in Beijing.

Beijing yesterday cancelled a meeting scheduled between Norwegian fisheries minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen and Sun Dawei, the vice-minister of China's food safety authority, Norwegian officials said.