Georgia Tech professor says arrest in China based on fabricated charges

<p>A Georgia Tech professor detained by Chinese authorities who accused him of spying said on his first full day back at work that China's actions were "punishment for his noncooperation."</p><p>Fei-Ling Wang, an associate professor at the university's Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, would not elaborate Monday, saying he wanted to wait to speak to the media. He did say his arrest was an example of "persecution by suspicion."</p><p>"At some point, I would tell the world what really happened, but right now, I'd just say that the charges are totally fabricated," Wang said.</p><p>China has denied allegations that it mistreated the Chinese-born professor, and the United States has called China's treatment of Wang "harsh and inappropriate."</p><p>Wang, a naturalized American citizen, was arrested July 25 in Shanghai, and the U.S. Embassy says it wasn't notified of his detention until Aug. 4 _ a violation of a consular treaty requiring notification within four days. Wang told U.S. diplomats that he was held in solitary confinement for four days and deprived of sleep and water for "extended periods," said a U.S. embassy spokeswoman in Beijing, speaking on condition of anonymity.</p><p>Georgia Tech spokesman Bob Harty said Wang told him the same thing, but emphasized that Wang said he was held sporadically _ not continually _ without sleep, food or water.</p><p>Chinese officials say Wang possessed Chinese state secrets and admitted to as much and that its relevant governmental departments are "blameless."</p><p>Wang said Monday the charges are "punishment for my noncooperation" and he is "fighting for recourse." The professor said the university is working to find him a lawyer. When Wang speaks to the media "depends on how things are transpiring," he said.</p><p>A lawyer will have to determine if Wang's civil rights were violated and if there was any violation of international law or protocol, Harty said, adding, "Is there anything the Chinese government owes him as a result of his incarceration and detention?"</p><p>Wang was in his native China as part of a student-exchange program and decided to stay a few days after the program ended to conduct research and to visit family and colleagues. Harty said the professor was researching the Chinese labor management system, called hukou, or household registration.</p><p>"It's chilling to think someone who was doing research in an area that could be troubling to a government could simply be taken into custody," Harty said.</p><p>Georgia Tech is reviewing its academic programs in China as a result of the arrest and is trying to determine if students and faculty are safe and if they're allowed to exercise academic freedom while studying or teaching there, Harty said. Georgia Tech must also determine if it's easier to affect China's system by continuing to interact with it or by walking away, Harty said Monday.</p><p>Wang's arrest was the latest in a string of such cases against academics with ties to the United States.</p><p>Wang, who is barred from returning to China for five years, returned to the United States on Aug. 8, but had to stay in San Francisco for a day. He returned to Atlanta on Aug. 9 and began doing some work off-campus. His first full day at work was Monday.</p>