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US Calls On China to Free American Engineer VOA News 6 Feb 2002 08:45 UTC 
The United States is urging China to release a Chinese-born American engineer detained for nearly two years on charges of bribery and espionage. The call comes ahead of President Bush's planned visit to Beijing later this month.
U.S. ambassador Clark Randt sent a letter to China's foreign ministry, objecting to the protracted detention and poor treatment of 67-year-old U.S. citizen Fong Fuming. Mr. Fong is said to suffer from heart and back problems and has been deprived of his eyeglasses during most of his time in custody. He is accused of paying thousands of dollars in bribes to obtain information about China's energy industry.
Mr. Fong, who denies the allegations, has had two brief hearings in Chinese courts since he was detained in 2000, but a verdict has yet to be handed down.
Mr. Fong's family and lawyer have expressed hope that warming U.S.-China ties since the the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States will help bring about his release.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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