Chinese dissident, Nobel laureate Liu XiaoBo now in 'critical condition'

Liu XiaoBo in hospital (Photo source: South China Morning Post)

The South China Morning Post reports that Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu XiaoBo 刘晓波 is in critical condition in a Chinese hospital.

A medical team has been placed on standby to resuscitate him, the Post adds.

Liu, who had been imprisoned in 2009 on subversion charges, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and released on medical parole in May. In 2010, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on Charter 08, a pro-democracy manifesto signed by thousands of Chinese citizens.

Two foreign doctors reviewed Liu's condition late last week and recommended he be evacuated to a Western hospital for emergency treatment. His Chinese doctors, however, denied the recommendation, saying Liu was too weak to be moved.

Asked on Monday if Liu would be allowed to go overseas for treatment, Reuters reported that foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: “China hopes relevant countries will respect China’s sovereignty and will not use individual cases to interfere with China’s internal affairs.”

Source: South China Morning Post

Following the publication of Charter 08, Liu was arrested and convicted on charges of "subverting state power." He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Though she was never charged with a crime, his wife, Liu Xia, has been under house arrest since 2009, but was allowed to visit her husband in hospital.

Liu XiaoBo's health deteriorated earlier this year, and state doctors diagnosed terminal liver cancer. He was released in May for medical treatment, but his condition has steadily declined despite medical treatment.