Despite China's vehement disapproval, a convicted criminal currently serving an 11-year prison sentence in a Chinese jail, has won the Nobel Peace Prize. It's no surprise that China is going mental over it.

China responded furiously last night after the country's most famous dissident won the prize. In a statement posted online, foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu had this to say:

"The Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to those who work to promote ethnic harmony, international friendship, disarmament and who hold peace meetings. These were (Alfred) Nobel's wishes,"

"[The winner] was found guilty of violating Chinese law and sentenced to prison by Chinese judicial organs,"

"His actions run contrary to the purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize. By awarding the prize to this person, the Nobel committee has violated and blasphemed the award."

President Barack Obama released a statement saying that the activist had “sacrificed his freedom for his beliefs” as supporters hailed the award as a victory for the human rights struggle.

The winner, a political essayist and democracy campaigner, was jailed last year for his role in writing a manifesto with other Chinese activists that called for free speech and multi-party elections. He was convicted of breaking Chinese law.

Read more about the controversial outcome on the Nobel Peace Prize official website, the ABC, CNN, BBC and The Guardian.