China Backsliding on Human Rights, US Says

Citing a recent "deterioration in human rights" in China, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher expressed disappointment with the Chinese government's failure to follow through on promises of human rights reform.

Those promises, made by the Chinese in the U.S.-China human rights dialogue of December 2002, were primarily responsible for the United State's decision not to seek sanctions against China before the Geneva Human Rights Commission.

Progress in 2002 overshadowed by abuses in 2003
Speaking at a July 2 press conference, Boucher said recent developments in China were especially distressing in light of what he called "incremental, but unprecedented steps in the right direction on human rights" made by the Chinese during 2002, including "the release of a number of prominent prisoners of conscience and the visit of representatives of the Dalai Lama to China for the first time in two decades."

According to Boucher, the U.S. viewed these actions as signals of a new era of commitment by China to "cooperate with the United States on human rights issues," and decided to hold off on seeking diplomatic sanctions against the Chinese government.

In 2003, however, a number of what Boucher called "troubling incidents" have prompted the U.S. to question China's commitment to make progress on restoring human rights to its people. For example:

The execution of a Tibetan without due process and despite assurances that his case would receive a review by the Supreme People's Court

 

The arrests of a number of democracy activists

Harsh sentences handed down to Internet essayists and labor protesters

The forced repatriation of 18 Tibetans from Nepal in contravention of UN practices

The muzzling of media outlets reporting on politically sensitive issues

The failure of PRC authorities to respect due process rights of those accused of political crimes

Lack of access for us diplomats and family members to trials of those detained for political activities

"This backsliding on human rights is of great concern to the United States and the international community," said Boucher, adding, "We urge the Chinese government to take steps to ensure that its citizens are not persecuted for the peaceful expression of their views, and to release all prisoners of conscience."