China urges US not to interfere in sovereignty

China on Thursday urged the United States to stop interfering into China's sovereignty after a US State Department spokesperson voiced concern about the indictment of a former college teacher named Ilham Tohti.

"Ilham Tohti violated Chinese law, and his case is being processed in accordance with the law," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in response to a question from the press.

"The US side has on many occasions made irresponsible remarks on China's law enforcement and judicial practices under the disguise of their so-called 'human rights' and 'freedom,' which constitutes wanton interference in China's sovereignty," Qin said.

On Wednesday, Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the US State Department, said that the US side was deeply concerned about the indictment of Ilham Tohti, and called on China to release him and to guarantee his human rights and freedom.

Qin said China firmly opposes and is strongly dissatisfied with the erroneous remarks.

"We demand the US side to immediately correct their mistakes and stop saying or doing anything that interferes in China's internal affairs," said the foreign ministry spokesman.

On Wednesday, Ilham Tohti was prosecuted for separatism in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.