The Nobel Prize Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo earlier today. Liu was not there to accept the prize—he's been held in a Chinese prison for two years, serving an 11-year sentence for "subversion of state power." It's a charge often used to jail those who speak out against the Chinese regime. Activists in Asia have called on the regime to release him.
Chinese authorities are furious over the Nobel committee's decision to give Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo the Nobel Peace Prize. They've put Liu's wife and many other activists under house arrest ahead of today's award ceremony in Norway. Amnesty International says Chinese authorities have detained hundreds of people around the country.
And earlier today, activists across Asia rallied for Liu and other dissidents.
These protesters from Hong Kong's Civic Party are calling on passersby to lend their support.
[Kwok Ka Ki, Hong Kong Civic Party]:
"I think this is a shame, this is very unfortunate that the rights of the Chinese and the voice of their opinions, the freedom of speech is not being protected. Not only that, their personal freedom is being taken away from people like Liu and all the dissidents."
In Tokyo, dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy.
And in Taipei, even the president commented on the Nobel Peace Prize.
[Ma Ying-Jeou, Taiwan President]:
"The government of [Taiwan] immediately welcomed the decision, and also urged the Chinese government to release Mr. Liu Xiaobo. Our concern for human rights is not bound by nationality or country boundaries."
Chinese authorities have been doing more than just cracking down on dissidents ahead of today's Nobel Prize ceremony.
China has suspended trade talks with Norway.
China's state-run media has launched a campaign to denounce the Nobel Prize and criticize the West of putting China "on trial."
