[JURIST] Political arrests in China [JURIST news archive] more than doubled in 2006 compared to the previous year, according to a report [press release] Wednesday from human rights group Dui Hua [advocacy website]. The 2007 Chinese Law Yearbook revealed that the state arrested 604 individuals for "endangering state security" in 2006, the highest number since 2002. In 2005, China arrested 296 individuals for "endangering state security," a charge often levied by the Chinese government against dissidents and government critics.

In one high-profile case, Chinese human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng was convicted [JURIST report] by a court in Beijing of inciting subversion of state power [CECC report]. Gao gained international notice by representing controversial clients, including members of the banned sect Falun Gong [group website; BBC backgrounder]. Other high-profile subversion trials in China in 2006 resulted in the jailing of several journalists and a 10-year sentence for a teacher [JURIST reports] who posted pro-democracy essays on the Internet. AP has more.