Angry China insists Nobel winner is a 'criminal'

"Liu Xiaobo is a criminal sentenced by Chinese judicial organs due to his violation of Chinese law," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"His actions are against the purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize," the statement said.
"The Nobel Committee's award of the Peace Prize to such a person is totally contrary to the aim of this prize and also seriously disrespects the peace prize," it said.The statement warned that the award of the prize in Oslo would also "bring harm to China-Norway relations".

Liu was arrested in December 2008, two days before he and 300 other dissidents released the Charter '08 for democratic reform.