China on Thursday confirmed a key member of a Tibetan separatist organization had been deported.

British citizen Dechen Khando Pemba, a key member of the ethnic separatist "Tibetan Youth Congress", violated the Chinese law while living in Beijing and was expelled from China on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular briefing.

"When the Chinese police looked into her, Dechen also admitted her wrongdoings," Liu said.

Liu disconnected the link between the case and the tightened Olympic security measures.

"Any one who commits crimes at any time should be investigated and punished."

He called for the international community to understand and support China's preventive measures to ensure the security of athletes, coaches, spectators and tourists for the upcoming Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2008)