Subversion won't be tolerated

The Yueyang Intermediate People's Court in Hunan province sentenced two men to seven years and five years in prison on Tuesday for subversion of State power. Peng Yuhua and Lee Ming-che accepted the verdict, saying they would not appeal their sentences.

The trial of the case, which proceeded in an open manner and invited 30 people, including the defendants' close relatives, delegates to the local people's congress and journalists, shows China's determination to crack down on those attempting to subvert the State's political power and its zero-tolerance toward actions aimed at endangering State security. The court verdict will consolidate public confidence in China's efforts to build a modern socialist country governed by law.

The manner in which the case was handled also reflects the institutional openness of judicial practices in China. The Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that all cases except for those related to State secrets, individual privacy and juveniles be handled in an open manner.