US Secretary of State John Kerry has called for the release of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who is serving an 11-year sentence for inciting the subversion of state power.
Kerry said in a statement on Wednesday to mark the 5th anniversary of Liu's conviction.
He said the United States is deeply concerned that China continues to incarcerate Liu Xiaobo and hold his wife, Liu Xia, under house arrest.
He called on China to release Liu and to remove all the restrictions on his wife.
The writer was sentenced in 2009 for inciting subversion after he released documents online criticizing the Communist Party's one-party rule and seeking democratic reforms.
In 2010, Liu became the first Chinese to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but the Chinese government did not allow him to attend the award ceremony.
Kerry also urged China to release all individuals detained for peacefully expressing their opinions, including Uygur academic Ilham Tohti and human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang.
Kerry noted that he will raise human rights concerns whenever he meets President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders.
He said the issue is too important to stand in the way of China's emergence in the community of nations.