Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo poses for a photographer in China. (AP)
Highlights
- US Senate proposes to rename street near Chinese Embassy after Liu Xiaobo
- Liu Xiaobo, seen as a dissident by China, has been jailed for 11 years
- China angered by proposal, says it will hamper international relations
China warned the United States on Tuesday it would face "serious consequences" if it renamed a stretch of street in front of the Chinese embassy in Washington after a jailed Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
On Friday, the U.S. Senate unanimously backed a proposal introduced by Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to rename the plaza in front of the embassy after Liu Xiaobo, who was jailed for 11 years in 2009 for inciting state subversion.
Liu had organized a petition in 2008 calling for an end to one-party rule. His wife Liu Xia has also been placed under house arrest.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the proposal ran "contrary to the basic norms of international relations."
"If the relevant bill is passed into law it will cause serious consequences," Hong told a daily news conference. "We demand the U.S. Senate stop promoting the bill and hope the U.S. executive authorities put an end to this political farce."
The bill would make "1 Liu Xiaobo Plaza" the official address of the Chinese Embassy. Its current address is 3505 International Place NW, with the white-stone compound situated not far from the Panda House at the National Zoo.
The bill still needs to clear the House and must be signed by the president before it can become law.
This appears unlikely - at least under this administration. A White House spokesman has said President Obama's senior advisers would recommend he veto the bill.
Nevertheless, it has angered China. On Sunday, the Global Times tabloid, which often reflects government views, called the proposal "futile."
"The U.S. has been at its wits' end in dealing with China as it is reluctant to employ military threats or economic sanctions that may backfire," the newspaper wrote. "The only option for Washington seems to be petty actions that disturb China."
Last year, the House Appropriations Committee also voted to instruct Secretary of State John Kerry to rename the street.
© 2016 The Washington Post
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