Beijing:
China has refused to publicly divulge details of the cases of 21 Indian traders detained for smuggling diamonds, but said they would be dealt according to law and Indian authorities will be kept informed.
"We believe local authorities will handle the case according to law, and relevant Chinese authorities will keep contact with the Indian side," a Chinese Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday answering a question on the detention of the Indian traders.
The spokesman said foreigners must accept China's laws and "their legitimate rights and interests will be protected".
However, he refused to divulge further details on the condition of the detained Indians, saying: "As for their specific condition, we do not have more information to provide".
The Indian traders from Gujarat, accused of smuggling diamonds worth USD 7.3 million from Hong Kong, were among 33 foreigners detained in raids on January 8 in the southern city of Shenzhen.
Indian diplomats met the detained traders after China allowed consular access, but after that there was no official word on their fate. They have been in detention for 50 days.