Veteran Chinese dissidents protest British treatment of activist during president's visit
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2015 file photo, human rights demonstrators stand beneath a protest banner bearing an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Parliament Square outside the Houses of Parliament, where he was giving a speech in London. Veteran Chinese pro-democracy campaigners have protested Britain's treatment of an activist detained during Chinese President Xi Jinping's pageant-filled visit to the country, saying London was putting economic ties over rights concerns. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File) (The Associated Press)
Senior Chinese pro-democracy campaigners are protesting Britain's treatment of an activist detained during Chinese President Xi Jinping's pageant-filled visit to Britain.
Shao Jiang, 47, was arrested in London Wednesday after scaling barriers and standing in front of Xi's motorcade holding placards. His home was searched and computer equipment taken away.
Wang Dan and Wu'er Kaixi said in a news release that Britain appeared to have jettisoned human rights concerns in favor of securing business deals.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The two were top student leaders of the 1989 pro-democracy movement centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square that was brutally suppressed by China's army. Like Shao, they now live in exile.
Xi's state visit sparked a series of protests over China's human rights record and other issues. Two Tibetan activists were also arrested for protesting.