The Chinese Government has rejected calls for the release of rights activist and Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, calling the issue a domestic affair. The 61-year-old writer was given an 11-year prison sentence in 2009 for allegedly inciting the subversion of the state by criticizing the Communists' one-party rule. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the following year. The Chinese government refused to let the jailed dissident attend the award ceremony. The government of Liaoning province, where Liu has been imprisoned, confirmed that he had been granted medical parole for cancer treatment. This prompted the US and European nations to demand Liu's unconditional release. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said today that no country has the right to gesticulate about China's internal affairs. He said all other countries should respect China's judicial independence and sovereignty, and should not use any so-called individual case to interfere in China's internal affairs.<br/><br/><br/>