China rejects US "preaching" in rights report

Apr 10, 2011, 10:01 GMT

Beijing - The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday accused the United States of 'interfering' and 'preaching' after its State Department released an annual report criticizing China's human rights record.

The United States should spend more time on its own rights issues rather than acting as a 'preacher of human rights,' ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.

'The US should stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs with human rights reports,' Hong said.

China was willing to hold dialogue on human rights with the US 'based on equality and mutual respect,' he said.

'But we are firmly against interfering in our internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues,' Hong said.

The US report said China had tightened control on dissidents, state media and the internet and was increasingly using arbitrary detention against rights activists.

Commenting on the report on Saturday, US Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner said his government's raising of human rights issues with China reinforced the 'call for freedom' by Chinese activists.

Posner rejected China's insistence that its detention of renowned artist Ai Weiwei on April 3 on suspicion of 'economic crimes' was a simple legal matter and not a human rights issue.

'This is an individual, a peaceful dissenter who has been critical of the government,' he said of Ai. 'We've called for his immediate release. We will continue to do it.'

Many other prominent dissidents have disappeared since mid-February, while police have temporarily detained, harassed or placed under house arrest scores of others following anonymous online calls for peaceful 'Jasmine' rallies against the government.

The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on Friday issued a statement expressing 'serious concern at the recent wave of enforced disappearances' in China.

Read more about China Diplomacy

Read more about Rights

Read more about US