A welcome for Mr. Huntsman

China's release of political prisoners is welcome, but doesn't signal a change of heart in Beijing.

New U.S. ambassador to China Jon Huntsman landed in Beijing on Friday. On Sunday, the Chinese government released three political prisoners. If Chinese leaders intended this as a welcoming gesture, the real message is about arbitrary justice in a one-party state.

Law professor Xu Zhiyong, famous for his work with petitioners and illegal Chinese prisons, was detained last month with his assistant, Zhuang Lu, on charges of tax evasion related to a civil society group he ran called Gongmeng. Their arrest generated a nationwide protest via blogs, Twitter and postcards. Prominent Chinese academics signed a public letter calling for the professor's release. The U.S. State Department publicly raised his case with Chinese officials. Mr. Xu was released on bail Sunday and could still be imprisoned if found guilty.

Uighur economics professor Ilham Tohti wrote a blog that addressed Uighur unemployment and developments in Xinjiang. He was taken into detention a few days after the July 5 riots. Like Mr. Xu, Mr. Tohti was the subject of an Internet petition signed by several hundred Chinese supporters calling for his freedom. He was also freed Sunday.

Public pressure may not have been the only factor in the release of these three. But the timing is a reminder of the extent to which these cases are a political game in a country with neither an independent judiciary nor a genuine rule of law.

All this is particularly worth noting as the Obama administration downplays human rights with Beijing. In February, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarked that human-rights concerns "can't interfere" with China-U.S. cooperation on issues like the global economic crisis and climate change. Mr. Huntsman said Saturday his top priority would be "helping lay the foundation for sustainable growth in the region and the global economy." He made no mention of human rights.

But the best foundation for that kind of growth is one where basic human rights and the rule of law are respected. This week 200 Uighurs will go on trial for their roles in the July 5 riots in courts that will hardly be free and fair. Welcome to Beijing, Mr. Huntsman