Chinese activist falls into coma while in detention

"If she had received proper treatment in the detention centre, she might not be in her current condition."

Ms Cao was sent to an emergency clinic in Beijing on Tuesday, where her brother Cao Yunli was allowed to visit her. He reported that she was in a coma and breathing with the help of a ventilator.

On Thursday evening, she was transferred to intensive care at the 309 Military hospital, which has a specialist tuberculosis unit, and has now regained consciousness.

One of her friends who visited her in the emergency clinic said Ms Cao had choked because of the fluid in her lungs. Ms Wang said a new infection has complicated the treatment of Ms Cao's tuberculosis.

Ms Cao's health was frail even before her arrest, a legacy of two spells in labour camps.

Her latest detention came as she tried to travel to a training session in Geneva on the mechanics of the United Nations human rights review process.

Since 2008, Ms Cao has campaigned for independent voices to be allowed to take part in this process, known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

While China stated to the UN that "broad public input on the report was sought via the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs", there is no trace of any such consultation on the website.

After her workshop, Ms Cao was planning to attend China's presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council on October 22, during which China said it was working to foster "a fairer and more harmonious society" and working "to ensure that every citizen enjoys a life of ever-greater dignity, freedom and well-being".

Instead, she disappeared for a month before her lawyer was allowed to visit her. Ms Wang said Ms Cao was charged with "picking quarrels and provoking trouble".

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Chinese activist falls into coma while in detention