The verdict of the former police chief who fled to the US consulate in February 2012 came as little surprise to most observers-15 years for crimes including defection and covering up a murder. But analysts say the charges are only the tip of the iceberg. He's also responsible for harvesting organs of live political and religious prisoners.

A panel of experts testified before Congress last week on the likelihood of prisoners of conscience being used to fuel China's growing organ transplant business. "I estimate that 65,000 Falun Gong were murdered for their organs between 2000 and 2008," testified Ethan Gutman, of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. "If this is true, even the powerful fraught legal term 'crimes against humanity' seems inadequate," said US Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ).

At an ASEAN trade fair last week, China's next likely president, Xi Jinping, wanted it both ways. He spoke of China's development securing peace for the world, but asserted the importance of territorial sovereignty, a likely reference to the now-heavily disputed Senkaku fishing islands, which Japan claims.