THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

National Security Advisor Anthony Lake met this afternoon with Wei Shanshan, sister of Chinese democracy activist Wei Jingsheng. After nineteen months of detention without charge, Mr. Wei will go on trial tomorrow, accused of attempting to overthrow the Chinese government. Mr. Lake conveyed the President's continued personal concern, noting that Mr. Wei's case had been raised during the U.S. - China summit meeting in New York in October.

Mr. Lake stressed that the United States has called for the release of Mr. Wei and has been actively engaged, issuing demarches to the Chinese government both in Beijing and Washington. He also noted that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, had raised the issue in an address at the United Nations several days ago. He assured Ms. Wei that the Administration would continue to follow her brother's situation closely.