A prominent Chinese activist imprisoned for sedition was released Sunday, but human rights advocates say China is still in the midst of a political crackdown.
Dissident Hu Jia returned home before dawn after serving more than three years in prison, his wife, Zeng Jinyan, said in an online message. "Safe, very happy. Needs to recuperate for a period of time," Zeng said on Twitter.
His release came several days after outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was freed after nearly three months in detention and while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was visiting Europe, where China's human rights policies were being raised amid economic talks.
However, Beijing has moved to prevent the growth of an Arab-style protest movement.
In recent months, hundreds of lawyers, activists and other intellectuals have been questioned, detained, confined to their homes or simply disappeared in the wake of online appeals calling for peaceful protests across the country similar to those in the Arab world. Though no protests took place, the calls spooked the Chinese government into launching the clampdown.
There are concerns that extra-judicial tactics will be used against Hu, including illegally detaining him, said Nicholas Bequelin, a senior Asia researcher with Human Rights Watch.
"Of course we are happy to have him be released, the problem is that we are not sure he is going to be released to freedom, but rather that he is going be again under some form of limitations to freedom, such as house arrest or monitoring and harassment by the authorities," Bequelin said before Hu's release.
Hu was convicted in 2008 for "inciting subversion of state power" for criticizing human rights restrictions in China, and was seen by some supporters as a potential recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize before it went to another jailed Chinese dissident, Liu Xiaobo, last year.
China often uses the broad charge of "inciting subversion" to punish dissidents, and when Hu was convicted, state media said that he had bowed to the accusations against him.
Praise and scorn
"He is back home with his parents and me," his wife, Zeng Jingyan, told Reuters in a brief telephone interview Sunday.
"I don't know if he can speak later. At the moment, I want everything to be peaceful. I'm worried that doing interviews at this stage might cause problems. Please understand."
In a posting last week, Zeng said that upon his release, Hu, who suffers from a liver ailment, would be deprived of his political rights for one year and will not be able to speak to the media.
"For this one year, the focus should be on treating his cirrhosis, caring for parents and child, to avoid being arrested again," she wrote.
In late 2008, Hu won the European Parliament's top human rights award, the 50,000-euro ($72,000) Sakharov Prize. Hu was honored in Strasbourg, France, where because he was in prison, his name was placed in front of an empty seat.
China's Communist-run government heaped scorn on the award, with Beijing calling Hu a criminal.
Initially an advocate for the rights of HIV/AIDS patients, Hu expanded his efforts after the government gave little ground and he began to see the country's problems as rooted in authorities' lack of respect for human rights.
He is also a Buddhist who has criticized China's controls on that religion in Tibet and voiced sympathy for the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader reviled by Beijing.
Hu used the Internet and telephone to chronicle the harassment and arrests of other dissidents and also published a series of articles criticizing the authorities for using the Olympics to mask serious human rights abuses.
China's premier in Europe
Wen arrived in Britain on Saturday from Hungary and was met by British Trade Minister Stephen Green and Britain's ambassador to Beijing Sebastian Wood. On Sunday he plans a visit to playwright Shakespeare's birthplace and a Chinese-owned car plant, AFP, the French news agency reported.
On Monday, is the annual UK-China Summit, which will be attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign Secretary William Hague and finance minister George Osborne.
Business deals across a range of sectors are expected to be announced at the event.
Wen will also hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and business leaders focused on green growth. The premier leaves Britain for Germany on Monday.
Britain says it will not shy away from criticizing China during Wen's trip.
London sees Beijing as a key strategic partner and will be keen to use the visit to boost economic and political ties.
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has made trade the focus of its foreign policy in its effort to return Britain to strong growth following a recession, with an emphasis on emerging giants such as China.
It is Wen's second Europe tour in just nine months, highlighting a shift in China's interest toward investing in the continent after having plowed money in recent years into Africa, Australia, Latin America and the United States.
It comes against the backdrop of a flare-up in the eurozone debt crisis, centering again on Greece, which needs to push through new austerity measures next week to unlock crucial EU-IMF aid and stave off default.
As well as seeking investment opportunities in Europe, Beijing wants to reassure struggling European economies that are major markets for Chinese goods.
