Taipei, 17th November: ROC [Republic of China] Foreign Affairs Minister Jason Hu on Sunday expressed welcome towards the release of top mainland Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng.

Hu told an audience in Taichung city where he stumped for Kuomintang mayoral candidate Hung Chao-nan that he is pleased with the release of Wei, and said he hopes the Chinese communists are indeed serious about improving human rights in mainland China.

Government spokesman David Lee also said the ROC, as a sovereign nation which respects democracy and freedom, welcomes all actions taken by mainland China which are conducive to upholding human rights and democratic values.

Lee expressed the belief that Wei's release was in part connected with US President Bill Clinton's recent meeting with mainland Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Meanwhile, Kao Koon-lian, chairman of the Cabinet-level Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, said Beijing's release of Wei is a commendable move in the right direction.

Kao, who is a former vice-chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's top agency in charge of mainland Chinese policies, stressed that it is necessary for Beijing to make across-the-board improvements in democracy, freedom and human rights conditions within all geographic regions of mainland China without discrimination...

Source: Central News Agency, Taipei, in English 0736 gmt 17 Nov 97

Wei's release reported by China

Text of report by Xinhua news agency

Beijing, 16th November: Wei Jingsheng has been released on parole for medical treatment because of his illness by Chinese judicial departments, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Justice said here today in responding to reporters.

Wei has gone abroad for medical treatment, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0646 gmt 16 Nov 97

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