Dr. Wang's sister, Wang Mei, and brother in law traveled to China to attend the appeal proceeding, held at 8:00am this morning, Beijing time. Wang Mei confirmed that the appeal failed.

Many Chinese scholars have pointed out that the espionage charge against Dr. Wang is constitutionally impossible; Chinese law says that "espionage" applies to spying for foreign countries, and Chinese law also regards Taiwan as a domestic province of China. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council denies that Dr. Wang had been paid to gather intelligence for Taiwan.

Condemnation of Dr. Wang's life sentence has been widespread, with rumblings coming from many corners. Pressure has come from the U.S. State Department and Congress, with more pressure now being arranged by activists. The Chinese democracy movement itself has been unanimous in condemning (1.) the international abduction of Dr. Wang, who was forcibly taken out of Vietnam to China on June 26, 2002; (2.) the six months of China's holding him, incommunicado while deceiving the world. During that time period, China claimed it had no knowledge of his whereabouts, or that of two other pro-democracy dissidents who were kidnapped along with him; (3.) the charging of Dr. Wang with charges, termed "ludicrous" by the Free China Movement; (4.) the one day 'kangaroo' trial, in which Dr. Wang was declared guilty; and (5.) the extreme sentence of imprisonment for life. Today's loss on appeal gives the democracy movement a point (6.) to condemn.

Wang Dan, famed as a leader among students at Tiananmen Square, said, "There is no evidence to substantiate the charges [against Dr. Wang]. China should not see dissidents who have visited Taiwan as spies, and Chinese pro-democracy activists have never resorted to violence or taken terrorist actions."

The two dissidents who were traveling with Wang, Yue Wu and Zhang Qi, were cleared of charges and released, although they were also incommunicado for six months. Yue Wu has described the kidnapping as a highly organized operation, carried out by men who wore Vietnamese police uniforms and spoke Mandarin Chinese. The three dissidents were driven 12 miles from their hotel in Vietnam to the border with China, where they were forced to cross in a waiting boat.

Activists have launched an entire campaign of pressure to "Free Wang Bingzhang!" Dr. Wang, 55, is famed as a founder of the overseas Chinese pro-democracy movement, having begun two organizations, the Chinese Alliance for Democracy and the China Democracy Party, and a magazine, China Spring. The magazine was launched from exile, where Dr. Wang has been since 1979, and became popular among intellectuals in China in the 1980s. Dr. Wang also made headlines in 1998 in connection with founding the China Democracy Party.

Today's setback seemed to dash rising hopes at the Free China Movement (FCM). As late as yesterday, it said, "Free China Movement expects Dr. Wang will be freed soon after this 'appeal sentence' due to strong pressure from United States and the world."

"Yes, in fact, this is OUTRAGEOUS," says John Kusumi, Executive Director at the China Support Network. And yet, China also has a history of releasing dissidents on medical parole, and as political gestures in the face of international pressure. Based on that knowledge, the pro-democracy movement is likely to redouble pressure for Dr. Wang's release.

FCM noted Thursday that a lawsuit is being prepared to charge Chinese

Communist leaders of "conducting international cross border kidnapping of [a] US national."

It also noted that Dr. Wang's family will be in Washington next week to meet with a list of Congressmen. On Capitol Hill, a resolution demanding the immediate release of Dr. Wang is being circulated for co-sponsorship.

Qingyan (Christine) Wang, a daughter of Dr. Wang, said of the sentencing, "They may kidnap him, they may try him, they may even sentence him to silence him to life in Prison, but they will never stamp out his spirit or diminish his cause -- which is to bring freedom to China."

Yongjun Zhou, American Director of the Free China Movement, said, "It is a sad day for the democracy movement but an even sadder day for the people of China." He and Timothy Cooper, International Director of FCM, each lamented the "business as usual" policy of Western nations to China, and the fact that international institutions in recent years abandoned and abdicated all means to effectively pressure China on democracy, freedom, and human rights.

FCM also warned of "serious consequences" if Dr. Wang is not released immediately. "We will never forget Dr. Wang Bingzhang," declared Shengde Lian, executive director of Free China Movement. "And we will not rest until he is freed or the totalitarian government of China falls. We believe that Dr. Wang will live to see a free China -- and that it will come sooner rather than later," concluded Mr. Lian.

In the days ahead, we are likely to hear more of the above actions-in-progress, and from the list of Congressmen, said to include Frank Wolf, Nancy Pelosi, John Conjer, Jr., Adam Smith, Ellen Tauscher and Tom Lantos.

Transferred from China Support Network (CSN)