The Hill News

The House passed a resolution Wednesday honoring Chinese democracy advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, even as China cracked down on dissidents two days before the Nobel ceremony in Oslo.

The resolution introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) passed 402-1.

Seven lawmakers, including Smith, nominated Liu Xiaobo and two other Chinese activists for the Nobel Peace Prize in February, noting in their letter that "few governments have the courage to brave the Chinese government's displeasure and honor them."

The announcement of Liu as the recipient of this year's prize sparked terse warnings from Beijing that countries that recognized the achievement of the imprisoned democracy advocate would have to "take responsibility for the consequences."

In a floor speech on Tuesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is said to be attending the award ceremony in Norway, lauded Smith, Frank Wolf (R-Va.), Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), and David Wu (D-Ore.) for "their commitment to democratic freedoms in China."

"Today, the House of Representatives is congratulating Liu Xiaobo on the Nobel Peace Prize and sending a clear message of support for human rights and democracy in China," Pelosi said. "We do this in recognition of the importance of the relationship between China and the United States, that we have many issues where we have common ground or where should seek common ground.  But all of that is better served by candor in our friendship and not ignoring sore spots."

The resolution calls Liu a "political prisoner" and urges Obama to keep working for his release, calls on China to stop censoring media reports about the Nobel Prize and urges Beijing to release the Lius and stop harassing pro-democracy activists.

"In honoring Liu Xiaobo, it also honors all those who have promoted democratic reform in China, including all those who participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstration for democratic reform," the resolution states, adding "that violations of human rights in general, and the persecution of Liu Xiaobo... are matters of legitimate concern to other governments."

Smith was also invited to the ceremony, which Liu won't be able to attend as he's serving an 11-year prison term for "inciting subversion" for helping pen Charter '08, a pro-democracy manifesto.

"I have already agreed to be there," Smith told The Hill last week. "I very much want to be there," pending any last-minute congressional business that could pop up at the end of this week, he stressed.