China arrests New Zealander on terror charge

8.00am

Chinese authorities have arrested a New Zealander and an American on terrorism charges.

The New Zealander, Sun Gang, and Benjamin Lan were detained after arriving in Beijing this month.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said today the two men were thought to be involved in "some violent, terrorist acts" at the instigation of an unspecified "hostile organisation" abroad.

"Given that their activities have violated relevant laws of China, they have been detained in accordance with law and the case is under investigation at this moment," Zhang said at a regular news briefing.

Associated Press reports that Mr Lan and Mr Sun are said to belong to the China Federation Foundation, a little-known pro-democracy group based in California.

Peng Ming, a prominent US-based dissident and a member of the group, said Mr Lan and Mr Sun were to conduct "propaganda work" promoting democracy. He said they also were to investigate China's outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The two planned to set up a branch of their group in Beijing and publicise the organisation, but had no intention of committing any violence, Peng told AP.

The New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry is unsure of the charges against Sun Gang.

An MFAT spokeswoman said today its embassy in Beijing had been in contact with Mr Sun and that he had legal representation.

- NZPA