Beijing, June 22 (RHC)-- China has denounced that the case of journalist Julian Assange is clear evidence of the complicity between the United States and the United Kingdom in launching a transnational crackdown against specific individuals.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman deplored that London spared no effort to support Washington in the arrest and extradition of the Australian intellectual.
"Julian Assange's case is a mirror. It reflects the hypocrisy of the United States and the United Kingdom regarding freedom of the press: people can expose other countries, but they can face heavy punishment if it exposes them and their allies," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
He warned that all eyes are on the WikiLeaks founder's human rights conditions and expressed hope that, in the end, justice will prevail over abuse and hegemony.
Assange faces 17 charges in the United States under the Espionage Act for leaking classified documents in 2010 and 2011 that the U.S. government says broke the law and endangered lives.
The WikiLeaks documents revealed, among other details, that the U.S. military had killed hundreds of civilians during the Afghanistan war in previously undisclosed incidents. Last Friday, June 17th, the British government approved the journalist's extradition to the United States, where he could face up to 175 years in prison for alleged espionage violations. Assange now has 14 days to appeal the decision.
