China on Tuesday demanded repatriation of Chinese terrorist suspects if the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay is closed under the new administration.

"The Chinese government has always called for the early repatriation of Chinese terrorist suspects and opposed other nations taking those inmates," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular press briefing.

Qin's comments came as the Pentagon works on a plan to shut the U.S. military prison. Germany said on Monday it would consider taking in foreign detainees from Guantanamo.

"The 17 Chinese terror suspects imprisoned at the U.S. military base of Guantanamo Bay are members of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, which has been listed as a terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council," Qin said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2008)