BEIJING has supplied information on a list of 'obscure' prisoners compiled by human rights lobbyist John Kamm, but denied any of them were in jail for 'counter-revolutionary' crimes.
The response was given by the Ministry of Justice on the eve of the visit by US Assistant Secretary of State John Shattuck.
Information on prisoners was one of the conditions set by US President Bill Clinton when he de-linked human rights from renewal of Most Favoured Nation trading status for China.
Meanwhile, sources said Beijing is expected to announce the resumption of talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on access to Chinese prisoners in jail. Talks were abruptly suspended last April.
It was reported that Mr Shattuck raised both issues in his discussions with Chinese officials last week.
One of the 12 prisoners covered by the report was well-known democracy activist Ren Wanding.
Although Ren was convicted of 'counter-revolutionary incitement and propaganda', the Justice Ministry said the 49-year-old activist was in jail because he had 'engaged in activities which violated China's criminal law'.