Norway's accusation against expelled scholar 'groundless'

BEIJING -- Norwegian police accusations against a Chinese scholar who was expelled from the country are "groundless", China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei called on Norway to protect the legitimate rights and the academic freedom of the scholar during a regular press briefing.

Norwegian police ordered the Chinese doctorate student, who had been working on a wind power project at the University of Agder for two years, to leave Norway before Jan. 23.

Norwegian broadcasting company NRK said Norwegian authorities made the move out of fear that the student's expertise could be used "for military purposes in other countries."

"The accusation is groundless. It impairs the scholar's rights and damages the academic image of Norway," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a daily press briefing.

He said China hopes Norway can earnestly protect the academic freedom and the legitimate rights of the Chinese scholar and avoid similar cases in the future.

Ma Qiang, a political counselor at the Chinese embassy in Norway, took the issue up with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.