China accuses disappeared artist of 'economic crimes'

It’s the first time the Red Chinese regime has even acknowledged its arrest of Ai Weiwei.

China’s foreign ministry said Thursday that dissident artist Ai Weiwei was being investigated for economic crimes.

“It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression,” ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters during a regular weekly briefing.

The ministry added that other countries should respect China’s laws.

Weiwei, who designed Beijing’s 2008 Olympic stadium, has become an outspoken critic of the regime. His family has not been able to visit him or even find out anything about his whereabouts since his disappearance on Sunday.