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2009-02-20 Home Front: Politix

In China, Clinton Says Human Rights 'Can't Interfere' With Talks

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Posted by Beavis 2009-02-20 11:07|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 C'mon, folks. "Hope" and "change"...

Activists 'shocked' at Clinton stance on China rights

WASHINGTON (AFP) Amnesty International and a pro-Tibet group voiced shock Friday after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed not to let human rights concerns hinder cooperation with China.

Paying her first visit to Asia as the top US diplomat, Clinton said the United States would continue to press China on long-standing US concerns over human rights such as its rule over Tibet. "But our pressing on those issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis," Clinton told reporters in Seoul just before leaving for Beijing.

T. Kumar of Amnesty International USA said the global rights lobby was "shocked and extremely disappointed" by Clinton's remarks. "The United States is one of the only countries that can meaningfully stand up to China on human rights issues," he said. "But by commenting that human rights will not interfere with other priorities, Secretary Clinton damages future US initiatives to protect those rights in China."

Students for a Free Tibet said Clinton's remarks sent the wrong signal to China at a sensitive time. "The US government cannot afford to let Beijing set the agenda," said Tenzin Dorjee, deputy director of the New York-based advocacy group.

China has been pouring troops into the Himalayan territory ahead of next month's 50th anniversary of the uprising that sent Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama into exile in India.

"Leaders really need to step up and pressure China. It's often easy to wonder whether pressure makes a difference. It may not make a difference in one day or one month, but it would be visible after some years," Dorjee said.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had sent a letter to Clinton before her maiden Asia visit urging her to raise human rights concerns with Chinese leaders.

Before she left, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said human rights would be "an important issue" for Clinton and that she would "raise the issue when appropriate."

China has greeted President Barack Obama's administration nervously, believing he would press Beijing harder on human rights and trade issues than former president George W. Bush.

Well, sounds like they won't have to worry about that anymore...

Posted by tu3031 2009-02-20 17:06|| 2009-02-20 17:06|| Front Page Top

#2 "Leaders really need to step up and pressure China. It's often easy to wonder whether pressure makes a difference. It may not make a difference in one day or one month, but it would be visible after some years," Dorjee said.
I doesn't make a bit of difference when we owe them a shitload of money.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2009-02-20 20:42|| 2009-02-20 20:42|| Front Page Top

#3 "The Obama administration has high hopes of winning China's cooperation on reducing harmful greenhouse gases."

Slave labor, infantcide, freedom of speech, computer hacking, Nork aggression, currency manipulation, arms trafficking, etc...be Dammed! As long as the ChiComs are in the fix for the Global Warming boondoggle...then things are oakeedoakee.

Posted by DepotGuy 2009-02-20 21:46|| 2009-02-20 21:46|| Front Page Top

#4 Anything China did to reduce their CO2 production would also reduce the massive amount of pollution they put into the air breathed by everyone to their east... like western North America. It would not be a bad thing if they worked to reduce it a bit. Although as I think about it, the reduction in factory production due to the worldwide recession must have a significant impact on China's emission of pollutants. Well done, China! Secretary of State Clinton hasn't even arrived for discussions, and already you have made concessions of one of her key points!!

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2009-02-20 23:16|| 2009-02-20 23:16|| Front Page Top

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