Experts believe move will improve ties
The Chinese authorities' decision to abandon the prosecution of New York Times researcher Zhao Yan and release him is being viewed as a goodwill gesture ahead of President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States next month.
Ong Yew-kim, a research fellow at Chinese University's Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, said it would improve Sino-US relations.
'It's a Chinese working for The New York Times. If President Hu goes to the US with this news, the US leader is going to praise him, saying that the case has been handled fairly,' Mr Ong said.
'But even if they don't release him, Sino-US relations are not going to worsen simply because of [detaining] one person.'
David Zweig, director of the Centre on China's Transitional Relations at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said the move was part and parcel of the dynamics of Sino-American relations.
'The Americans like to see people get out, and China gives them the people,' he said. 'It won't help China's image or make it easier for [US President George W.] Bush to push for progress on human rights.'