AP: China Rejects Mental Hospital Charge

BEIJING (AP) -- China denied Tuesday that it confines dissidents in its mental hospitals, but didn't say whether it would grant a demand by the world's leading psychiatric association to inspect them. [..]

The statement made no mention of the vote Monday by the World Psychiatric Association to send a mission to investigate accusations of Chinese mental hospital abuses.

The association -- which represents professional groups from 105 nations -- said it wants to inspect hospitals by May, after working out guidelines with Chinese authorities.

China could be expelled from the group if it refuses. Beijing has rejected similar missions in the past.

China's Health Ministry said it had no information on possible inspections and said its top officials were away on business and unavailable to comment.

"I'm not clear on this issue," said a spokeswoman for the ministry's International Cooperation Department. She would give only her surname, Zhang.

China is accused of using mental wards to detain nearly 500 members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement. [..]

Labor activists have also reportedly been among those held in mental wards. In some cases, individuals without mental problems allegedly have been forced to take psychiatric drugs and given electroshock treatment.

The psychiatric association's decision came during the World Congress of Psychiatry, being held this week in Yokohama, Japan.

Its president, Juan J. Lopez-Ibor, said inspectors must have freedom to inspect wherever, whomever and whenever they want.

Lopez-Ibor said he discussed the possibility of an investigation with Chinese Deputy Minister of Health Ma Xiaowei in February.