Zhao Yan (44), a Chinese researcher working for the New York Times was cleared of leaking state secrets hence not receiving the death penalty, but was sentenced to a jail time of 3 years for fraud (instead of the previously thought 10-year sentence).
Zhao was arrested in September 2004 after a New York Times report regarding former president Jiang Zemin resignation as head of military. Although many people anticipated the retirement, it was still a state secret.
The issue caused diplomatic friction between China and the US who wanted the release of Zhao. Human rights groups thought that the Chinese government was trying to scare other reporters and also lobbied against the arrest.
