Liu Xiaobo, the professor and human rights activist who authored the Charter 08 petition that called for democratic reform, has the highest odds to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Liu, who was arrested last June for inciting subversion of state power, was sentenced to 11 years in jail in December. Unless you count the Dalai Lama, no Chinese has ever received the Peace Prize. But considering that China is such a peace-loving nation of peace lovers, it’s certainly a wonder! Alas, China does not think the award will be an honor and has basically said, diplomatically, that Norway will regret it. Deputy Foreign Minister Fu Jing told the Nobel committee director that honoring the dissident will have “negative consequences” for relations between the two countries and was “unfriendly” :( .