[JURIST] China [government website; JURIST Country news archive] Thursday announced a political prisoner's release in an apparent exchange for the US dropping its pursuit of a UN censure of China's rights record. Rebiya Kadeer [Amnesty International backgrounder] was released Thursday on medical parole and left for the US for treatment, according to a statement by the US-based Dui Hua Foundation [advocacy website]. Kadeer was convicted of sending state intelligence abroad in 2000 and sentenced to serve eight years in prison for sending newspaper clippings to her husband in the US. Also Thursday, the US said it would not pursue a resolution critical of China at the UN Commission on Human Rights, which is holding its 61st session. In a report [text] issued last month, the State Department was critical of China's record, prompting an angry response [JURIST report]. Kadeer's release comes days before US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to visit the country. A State Department official said the tactic of releasing prisoners before a US visit was commonly used by the Chinese government. Reuters has more.