Chinese Media Gauge Impact of Hu Jintao Visit on Imprisoned Journalist

SAN FRANCISCO--Hopes for the release of a Chinese researcher for the New York Times who is imprisoned in China were dashed when prosecutors announced this week that they may bring new charges against him.

Supporters of Zhao Yan, a citizen of China who has been in jail for 19 months, had anticipated his release prior to the U.S. visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao. China traditionally releases dissidents before important diplomatic trips, and in March prosecutors had withdrawn charges against Zhao. But Chinese media here, who have covered Zhao's case cautiously, say that Hu's trip will likely make little difference in the case.

"The American government wants to talk about detained activists, but they probably won't talk about specifics during presidential visits," says Joseph Leung, editor-in-chief of Bay Area branch of the Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily.

"Officials may reach some understanding before the presidential meeting," Leung said, "but they might not bring up a specific case to President Hu."

Zhao was arrested last September on charges of leaking state secrets to foreigners, which he denies. His arrest came after the publication of a New York Times report, written by Joseph Kahn, that correctly predicted the possible retirement of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin from a key military post. According to the Washington Post, the Chinese State Security Ministry obtained an internal memo from the New York Times Beijing Bureau written by Zhao about Jiang's retirement.

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