Wang Jianmin, has been sentenced to five years for running illegal business. (Representational Image)
The State Department says its diplomats have not been granted permission to meet with James Wang, a jailed magazine publisher and American citizen, since his 2014 arrest in Southern China.
A court in Shenzhen this week sentenced Wang, also known as Wang Jianmin, to five years on charges of running an illegal business, bribery and collusion after he sent copies of his sensitive political magazine to mainland China. State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday the US will continue to request visits.
Wang's lawyer Chen Nansha said today that Wang might not appeal the verdict. Wang also holds Hong Kong citizenship and last entered China with his Hong Kong identity card before his arrest, Chen said.
China does not recognize dual citizenship and likely tried Wang as a Chinese citizen.