From a New York Times editorial (link):
As China moves ahead steadily in the global marketplace, its ultimate success will depend not just on its buying power. Among other things, China must have a free press and a judicial system based on the rule of law rather than political power. One highly public test of both will be whether the Chinese authorities release Zhao Yan, who has been in jail for nearly 18 months on specious charges that he revealed state secrets to The New York Times.
See also:
-“Officials Defend Refusal to Release Researcher” from the Los Angeles Times.
–More In The Li Xiguang File from EastSouthWestNorth blog.