A Hong Kong-based newspaper reporter detained in China was a spy for a foreign intelligence service, A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said last week.
But his comments on the case in an earlier press conference were later altered in the official transcript.
During a June 2 press conference, spokesman Kong Quan stated that Ching Cheong, a reporter for the Singapore Straits Times, "has been gathering intelligence in China's Mainland under the order and direction of overseas intelligence agency."
"I don't know if there are any other people involved as you mentioned," Kong said. "But I want to stress that China deals with all the cases of its kind in accordance with law."
Comments Kong made on May 31 were later removed from the Foreign Ministry official transcript. In those comments, Kong stated, "Ching Cheong admits that he has been following the instructions of an overseas intelligence organization and has undertaken intelligence gathering activities on the Mainland. He has also collected a large amount of cash for spying."
Additionally, the Foreign Ministry removed the statement that, "Ching Cheong's case is not related to Zhao Ziyang at all."
Zhao was the one-time member of the ruling Communist Party Standing Committee that opposed using force to crack down on democratic protesters in Tiananmen Square, and was sympathetic to their calls for democratization.
U.S. officials said the removal of statements shows that Kong misspoke in claiming Ching admitted to spying and that the case is not related to Zhao.
Ching is based in Singapore and was arrested by Chinese police in Guangzhou, southern China on April 22. He faces charges of stealing state secrets and was reported to be collecting documents on Zhao, who was forced into house arrest after the events of 1989 until his death earlier this year.
China analysts said the wording of the Kong statement indicates that Ching is accused of spying for Taiwan. The term Kong used in Mandarin said the reporter worked for an intelligence service "outside the border," meaning places like Hong Kong and Taiwan. The term "overseas" is used to describe places outside China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
