BEIJING - China strongly opposes a declaration issued by the European Union on a Chinese human rights case, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang here Sunday.

The EU said in its declaration that it regrets the decision of the higher people's court of Sichuan Province to confirm the sentence of Tan Zuoren to five years in prison for "subversion of state power."

It also appeals to the Chinese government to release Tan unconditionally.

Tan Zuoren, a former magazine editor, was sentenced in February on the charge of inciting subversion of state power. This week, the Sichuan provincial higher people's court upheld Tan's five-year prison term.

Qin said, China's justice department handled the case independently according to the Chinese law.

The EU declaration has interfered in China's judicial affairs," Qin said. "China firmly opposes and is strongly dissatisfied over it."

Qin hoped the EU would respect China's judicial sovereignty and safeguard the overall situation of Sino-EU relations.