Chinese authorities are calling it a conspiracy masterminded by foreign forces.

A secret escape attempt by the son of one of China's most prominent human rights lawyers has been thrust into the spotlight on national television.

Wang Yu's son was caught by police on his way to Thailand from where he planned to claim asylum in the U.S.

Wang and her husband, both in detention, broke down when told he'd been caught.

She is then shown denouncing those who tried to take her son out of China. 

"I am extremely unhappy with these actions and I strongly condemn them."

But one of the activists involved in the plan says Wang's comments should not be taken to represent her true feelings. 

"I watched the video with a heavy heart. I don't know what kind of threat they are under, they have to go through, to talk like that on national TV,"

Wang and her husband were detained in a crackdown on more than 50 human rights lawyers in July.

The report is the latest in a months-long state media campaign to discredit human rights activists.