A question taken at a Thursday State Department briefing raised concerns about the reported arrest of a Chinese blogger who met with Secretary of State John Kerry.
According to the question asked by a reporter, the blogger also made "critical remarks about Chinese propaganda laws and censorship."
The State Department responded:
We are deeply concerned by reports that one of the bloggers who met with the Secretary has been fired from his job after meeting with Secretary Kerry and publicly expressing his views. If the reports are true, we would be very troubled that a private company employee would be fired for expressing his or her views.
The United States remains concerned by the continuing crackdown on freedom of speech and expression on the Internet and by the detention and prosecution of bloggers in China. We urge Chinese authorities to guarantee all Chinese citizens the rights of free expression, association, religion, and peaceful assembly.