ICC Note: Human rights may be on the U.S. agenda during the visit of President Xi of China, but whether or not such discussions have an impact on China policy is another matter. The Chinese government routinely dismisses human rights as “an internal affair” when the topic when raised by someone outside the country.
By Ziatica Hoke
9/22/2015 China (Voice of America)
China’s human rights record will be one of the key issues discussed during a meeting between the U.S. and Chinese presidents this week in Washington.
Ahead of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice has called for the release of political dissidents jailed in China, while activists called for tougher U.S. measures against Beijing.
Rice, who has made three official visits to China, told an audience in Washington Monday that she raised the human rights issue during every one of them.
“Detaining lawyers and journalists and anti-corruption activists only reduces the credibility of China’s efforts to address its challenges, hampering its ability to achieve a prosperous and stable society,” she said. “Blocking free access to the Internet at a time when the rest of the world is moving towards greater openness and connection only cuts off opportunities for the Chinese people to advance.”
Situation worsens
U.S. rights groups and politicians say China’s state-sponsored human rights abuses have worsened under President Xi.
“China is in a race to the bottom with North Korea for the title of the world’s worst violators of human rights,” said Rep. Christopher Smith, a Republican from New Jersey.
Advocates invited to testify at a recent U.S. congressional hearing criticized Western nations for dealing with China.
“I think largely China’s human rights is so bad, I think is largely because of the appeasement policy from the Western countries like the United States,” said Yang Jianli of Initiatives for China.
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