Portraits of journalist Gao Yu are left by protesters demonstration calling for the release of Gao, outside the Chinese liaison office in Hong Kong. (Reuters)

The European Union on Friday demanded that China "review" the trial of 71-year-old Chinese journalist Gao Yu, who has been sentenced to seven years prison after being convicted of leaking state secrets.The sentence was given "despite the serious doubts that have been raised about the legal procedure," an EU diplomatic service spokesperson said. "We call for the immediate review of Ms Gao Yu's case, in line with international standards."Gao -- named one of the International Press Institute's 50 "world press heroes" in 2000 -- "illegally provided state secrets to foreigners," Beijing's No. 3 Intermediate People's Court said Friday, on a verified social media account.

The legal proceedings were also condemned by Washington, which urged that Gao be "immediately" released.The EU statement said that Gao's case "highlights the situation faced by a number of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, including journalists and bloggers, who have been prosecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression."