China defends exit ban on human rights lawyer

China on Thursday defended an exit ban imposed on a human rights lawyer as lawful after the United States urged Beijing to let him travel to receive a US fellowship.

Chen Jiangang was selected to study English as part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, a programme named for the late vice president that provides a year of US education for emerging leaders from around the world.

But the lawyer said he was pulled aside by customs at Beijing Capital airport as he prepared to board a flight to Seattle on April 1 and told he was banned from leaving China.

"This persecution of lawyers and disregard for the rule of law once again shows to the world that the Chinese government is openly and unceasingly depriving people of their human rights," he said in a statement.

"Nothing stops the Chinese government from doing whatever it wants to, disregarding any law or commitment it makes," he said.

The US State Department said it was "disturbed" by the move and urged China to "respect Chen's freedom of movement and to view lawyers and rights defenders as partners in strengthening Chinese society through development of rule of law."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Thursday the exit ban was "in accordance with China's own laws."