Not afraid of calling Bushshit

China: Criticism of human rights record is 'hypocrisy'

BEIJING — China struck back Thursday against U.S. criticism of its human rights record by saying the United States is plagued by crime and racial inequity and is abusing detainees who are terror suspects.

The Chinese government's report, issued a day after the State Department slammed China for "numerous and serious" human rights abuses, attacked the United States for failing its citizens.

The State Department report, issued annually since 1977, covers all the countries in the world except for the United States. This year's version singled out China for "increased harassment, detention and imprisonment" of people seen as threats to the government. It also said China has tightened control over the media and Internet and sometimes uses violence to put down protests.

China's report deals only with the United States. It was put out by the State Council or Cabinet. In its report, Beijing accuses the U.S. government of "hypocrisy" and "double standards."

For years, "the U.S. government has ignored and deliberately concealed serious violations of human rights in its own country for fear of criticism," China's report says. It cites a wide range of problems, from rampant gun crime and racism to government wiretapping and prisoner abuse.

Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday that Washington's view of the situation in China "turns a blind eye to basic facts, making irresponsible accusations about China's human rights situation." Among China's criticisms of the United States:

• U.S. democracy is a "game for the rich," in which elections are bought by special interests.

• Violent crime is rampant.

• Racial discrimination remains a "chronic malady."

• A "unilateralist" U.S. government is guilty of gross violations of the sovereignty and human rights of other countries.

• Wiretapping and other "secret snooping is prevalent."

It was the seventh time Beijing has responded to the State Department report by issuing a critique of human rights in the USA. China's findings are drawn in part from U.S. press reports. Among those cited this year were USA TODAY stories on homelessness in the USA and Iraqi casualties from the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

The State Department's observations about increasing repression in China came as police in Beijing were rounding up petitioners who came from other parts of the country asking for help from members of parliament at its annual session.

China has become a more open and a more assertive global player but remains extremely sensitive to outside criticism — "interference," in Beijing's view — of its still-secretive political system.

"There has been great improvement in China's human rights situation, but the U.S. report did not recognize China's achievements," said Li Xiaojun, a council member of the China Society for Human Rights Studies. The society is a government sanctioned organ in Beijing often quoted by China's Communist Party in defense of its human rights record. "The U.S. reports on 190 countries, but does not talk about the bad situation in the U.S., so the Chinese government feels it is necessary to complete the picture."

The row over human rights comes as China and the Bush administration are preparing for an April visit to Washington by China's top leader, President Hu Jintao.

The administration may need to strike a more cooperative tone if it expects to have China's help in the war on terrorism. "We don't want to be confrontational, but if it happens, it will be the USA's fault," Li said.

After years of criticism from Washington, China, European and Middle Eastern countries have denounced the Bush administration over human rights abuses. They allege inhumane treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay detention center, abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and U.S. abductions of terror suspects from Europe.

U.S. actions overseas have opened the door to Chinese criticism, said Richard Baum, a China expert and political science professor at UCLA. "The moral high ground has left the U.S. side, unfortunately, (although) China's human rights abuses are certainly more widespread and serious than in the U.S.," he said.

Baum said he questions the State Department's conclusion that China's human rights climate has worsened. He noted Beijing's recent decision to shut down, then reopen, Freezing Point, a publication that has challenged official viewpoints.

Original article posted here.