Zhang Shanguang could be executed if the court deems that he seriously damaged national interests. However, the crime is generally punished with a jail term.

Zhang, who spent seven years in jail for labor rights campaigning, goes on trial in Huaihua city in the southern province of Hunan, a court official said.

The official refused to detail the charges or give his name.

Human Rights in China, a New York-based group, said Friday that Zhang was accused of ``illegally providing intelligence to overseas enemy organizations and people.''

Zhang's wife, Hou Xuezhu, said he was interviewed by the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia in March and discussed excessive fees and taxes charged to Chinese farmers by local officials. She said he did nothing to break the law and should be released.

Human Rights in China said Zhang told the network about a demonstration by 70 to 80 farmers in Hunan province's Xupu county and about another protest by farmers angered by excessive taxes that turned violent and resulted in deaths.

Radio Free Asia has angered Chinese officials with reports on human rights and other issues.

Human Rights in China said Zhang would plead innocent. Prosecutors maintain that Zhang is a repeat offender who should be severely punished, it said.

Zhang was first jailed after a nationwide crackdown that followed the crushing of democracy demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.

His latest case follows the trials of three of China's most prominent dissidents: Xu Wenli, Qin Yongmin and Wang Youcai. They were charged with endangering state security, under different clauses of the law, and sentenced last week to 13 years, 12 years and 11 years respectively for trying to organize the China Democracy Party.

President Jiang Zemin ordered law enforcement officials Wednesday to eliminate any threats to ``social stability.''

Zhang, who had been preparing to set up an association to protect laid-off workers' rights, has been detained since July, after President Clinton's visit to China.