Former Chinese lawyer and human rights advocate Yu Wensheng has been detained by the authorities along with his wife on their way to the EU Delegation in Beijing.

A website supporting human rights activities in China and other sources say Yu and his wife Xu Yan were detained on suspicion of disrupting public order.

The couple were heading to the EU Delegation on the subway when they were detained on Thursday. Xu filmed the scene and posted videos on social media.

Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock was visiting China from the day the two were taken into custody. Baerbock expressed concern about the country's human rights situation at a news conference.

Chinese authorities have been increasing pressure on human rights activists.

The EU Delegation and the German Embassy in Beijing called it unacceptable, and are demanding the immediate release of the two.