BEIJING – China pushed back against U.S. criticism of its human
rights situation on Friday following talks on the issue, saying that the Chinese
people were "most qualified" to talk on the topic and defending the detention of
artist Ai Weiwei.
The U.S. official leading the talks said on Thursday that he was "deeply
concerned" about a crackdown on dissidents and rights lawyers in China, and that
the friction could impede the two powers' ties.
Yet China and the United States have many interests in common, from dealing
with North Korea's nuclear ambitions to maintaining the global economic
recovery, and the spat over rights seems unlikely to spin out of control.
China's Foreign Ministry, in a restrained statement carried by the official
Xinhua news agency, said both sides agreed that "the talks were frank, open and
constructive.
"The Chinese side said the Chinese people are most qualified to speak on
China's human rights situation, and the Chinese judicial organs would continue
to handle cases in accordance with law," Xinhua cited the statement as
saying.
"The Chinese side said that only through abiding by a spirit of equality and
mutual respect can the human rights dialogue achieve positive progress."
China and the United State had an "in-depth exchange of views on issues
regarding bilateral cooperation in U.N. human rights field, the rule of law,
labor rights, freedom of expression", Xinhua said.
China briefed the U.S. side on "the country's measures and achievements in
improving and safeguarding people's livelihood, advancing the construction of
democracy and legal system, and developing grass-roots democracy".
The report made no mention of specific cases the United States said it had
raised, including those of detained artist Ai and missing rights lawyers such as
Teng Biao. Reuters
