Intelligence

DATE= 7/25/2001

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-278614

TITLE= CHINA-US CITIZEN RELEASE (L)

BYLINE= LETA HONG FINCHER

DATELINE= BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: China has deported a U-S citizen who had been convicted of

spying. As Beijing Correspondent Leta Hong Fincher reports, Li

Shaomin's release removes one of a series of irritants to Sino-American ties.

TEXT: U-S Embassy officials in Beijing say American citizen Li Shaomin

has been expelled from the country and is on his way to San Francisco.

A State Department official will meet him there to assist with his entry

to the United States and reunion with his family. Mr. Li's expulsion

comes just three days before Secretary of State Colin Powell is to visit

Beijing.

Mr. Li taught business at City University in Hong Kong. He was

convicted July 14th of spying for Taiwan. He has been in detention

since February 25th, when he crossed the border to China to see a

friend. China says it has a large amount of confirmed evidence that Mr.

Li spied and harmed Chinese security. His family says he is

innocent of the charges.

Mr. Li's deportation removes one major source of tension in recently

strained Sino-American ties. It comes a day after U-S / based sociologist

Gao Zhan and another Chinese-born U-S resident were convicted in Beijing

of spying and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The State Department says it is continuing to urge the early release of

Ms. Gao, on humanitarian grounds. Ms. Gao's lawyers say she is seeking

medical parole, because of a weak heart.

(signed).

NEB/LHF/WD