China court upholds conviction of US geologist

BEIJING: A Beijing court Friday upheld a Chinese-born American geologist's conviction on a state secrets charge in a case that has drawn criticism from Washington, US Ambassador Jon Huntsman said.

Huntsman urged China to release Xue Feng, following a hearing in which Xue tried to appeal against a conviction that resulted in an eight-year prison sentence handed down last July.

"We ask the Chinese government to consider an immediate humanitarian release of Xue Feng," Huntsman said after he emerged from the Beijing court where the hearing was held.

"I am extremely disappointed in the outcome," said Huntsman, who met Xue briefly after the hearing.

No official court announcement was immediately issued.

The US has repeatedly raised concerns over whether Xue's rights were being protected and whether he had access to a fair trial and has called previously for his release.

Xue, a Chinese-born US citizen working for a private firm, was first detained in November 2007 over the sale of a database on China's oil industry.

President Barack Obama has personally raised Xue's case with Chinese President Hu Jintao, US diplomats have said previously.

"We are all very, very disappointed when you consider that the charges are very questionable," Huntsman said, vowing the United States would continue to pursue Xue's release.(AFP)