Beijing ? China’s government insisted Thursday that it is properly handling a detained Chinese researcher for The New York Times, following complaints that he is still being held despite a decision to drop state secrets charges against him.

Zhao Yan’s defense attorney says prosecutors have failed to act on two formal requests to release him after a court dismissed the charges last week. The surprise move came ahead of a visit to Washington by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

When asked whether Zhao will be released soon, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, “The actual situation is not like what you are talking about.”

He refused to elaborate.

Zhao has been held since 2004 on charges of leaking state secrets to foreigners.

The government has given no details, but the charges are believed to be linked to a Times report that year on plans by former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin to give up a key military post. The Times is the flagship newspaper of the New York Times Co.