A journalist in China has been sentenced to two years in jail for writing essays that the government claimed sought to overthrow the socialist system.

Li Yuanlong, a reporter on the Bijie Daily, was charged in February for sending the documents to foreign websites under a pseudonym last year. Li was convicted of "inciting subversion" and jailed for two years.

"I feel it is very unjust," Li's wife, Yang Xiumin, told Reuters. "To give such a heavy sentence just for a few essays is not rule of law. It is not justice." 

Li's essays were published on foreign websites that are banned in China.

Li Jianqiang, Li's lawyer, explained that the sentence was more lenient than anticipated.

"Legally, to sentence him to even one or two days was wrong, but given China's judicial environment this was not as bad as it could have been," he told Reuters.

In December 2003 Li Zhi, a 35 year-old ex-civil servant, was also convicted of "inciting subversion" and received an eight-year sentence.

He was arrested the previous August after he criticised the corruption of local officials in online discussion groups and articles.