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China on Thursday warned against awarding this year's Nobel Peace Prize to two exiled Chinese dissidents, saying such a move would be a "flagrant interference" in its internal affairs.
Rumors have been flying that Wei Jingsheng and Wang Dan, who both now live in exile in the United States, could be the winners of the 1999 prize, to be awarded in Oslo on Friday.
"Wei Jingsheng and Wang Dan had been sentenced to prison terms by the judicial departments of China because of their engagement in activities that jeopardized national security and overthrowing the government," foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.
"Now some people in Western countries have gone so far to nominate these people as candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize this constitutes a flagrant interference in China's internal affairs.
"If these people win the prize, this will be unacceptable to the Chinese people and government and will be a mark of the peace prize," Zhang said.
The five-member Nobel Committee sparked intense speculation when it announced two weeks ahead of the big day that it had already made up its choice.
A Norwegian newspaper quoted the committee's secretary, Geir Lundestad, saying the ceremony would be transmitted live to China for the first time, and it would be a "surprise" for the Beijing authorities.
But he told AFP on Wednesday in Oslo that the article had misquoted him, adding Beijing had contacted him "several times," worried about the speculation.
Zhang called both Wei and Wang "criminals that violated criminal law in China," saying their violations of national security would be punished in any country.
Wei served 18 years in prison for his outspoken criticism of the Beijing government and his calls for democracy. He was released on medical parole on November 17, 1997 and sent into exile.
His name has been rumored in the runup to the award announcements every year for the past six years.
Wang Dan was one of the top student leaders during the pro-democracy movement that was crushed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in June 1989.
He was sentenced to an 11-year term on October 30, 1996 on charges of subversion. Wang was released into exile on medical grounds on April 18, 1998.