China said it had detained a rights activist working...

China said it had detained a rights activist working as a researcher with The New York Times on charges of possessing "state secrets," a charge which could bring the death penalty according to his lawyer Mo Shaoping.
"Zhao Yan is a Chinese citizen. He is suspected of being in illegal possession of state secrets of China," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told reporters when asked to confirm the Times journalist's detention.
Zhao was allegedly detained after he broke the story of Jiang Zemin stepping down as Chairman of China's Military Commission (CMC) a week ahead of the Communist Party plenum.
"Relevant Chinese departments are investigating the case according to Chinese laws. Without any doubt, it is China's domestic issue. Outside forces should not interfere with it," Kong said.
Zhao, a researcher with the Beijing bureau of New York Times was reportedly detained in Shanghai on September 17, a day after the fourth plenum of the Communist Party ended.
The Beijing State Security Bureau formally notified his family September 21 that Zhao was "in criminal detention under suspicion of illegally providing ate secrets to foreigners," the Times reported.