China to try US citizen

The case is a strain on US-China relations

The trial of the Chinese-American accused of spying for Taiwan is due to begin in China on Saturday.

Li Shaomin, a US citizen who teaches in Hong Kong, was arrested during a visit to China in February and is being held on what human rights groups say are politically motivated charges.

US citizen Li was detained without explanation

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said last week that Mr Li would appear in Beijing's First Intermediate Court on 14 July.

Citing "direct" information from the Chinese Government, Mr Boucher said a US consular official and an interpreter would be allowed to attend his trial.

Strained relations

Correspondents have said the case of Mr Li, who is among six people with US connections being held in China on similar charges, has been a major impediment in relations between China and the United States.

Mr Li, 45, has been in detention since 25 February when he was picked up by police in the southern city of Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong, and detained without explanation.