BEIJING — China on Thursday rejected an appeal from dozens of writers and artists for the release from house arrest of the wife of the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Liu Xia’s right to travel is an issue for the Chinese government alone to determine.

Lu’s comments came after writers and artists including South African novelist and Nobel winner J.M. Coetzee, Rita Dove, Paul Auster, Khaled Hosseini, and Michael Chabon read excerpts of Liu Xia’s poetry as part of a video campaign. Liu Xiaobo died of cancer last year while serving a prison sentence for incitement to subvert government power.

Liu Xia, who suffers from depression and is believed to be in declining health, has never been charged with a crime, but has been kept guarded and isolated since her husband was awarded the 2010 prize.

Germany said earlier this month that it would welcome Liu after a recording was released of her crying in desperation and indicating she has given up hope of being able to leave China.

associated press