DATE=1/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / HUMAN RIGHTS (L)
NUMBER=2-258024
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Beijing says a U-S decision to sponsor a resolution
criticizing Chinese human-rights policy at an annual United
Nations forum is doomed to failure. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho
reports this is not the first time China has faced
international criticism for its human rights record.
TEXT: Since the harsh Chinese Government crackdown on
student demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in 1989, global
debate over the human rights situation in China has become
an annual event.
At a regular briefing Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Zhu Bangzao defended Beijing's human rights
record, saying Chinese people enjoy an unprecedented level
of fundamental freedoms. Mr. Zhu -- speaking through an
interpreter -- said his government rejects Washington's
latest criticisms.
// ZHU / INTERPRETER ACTUALITY //
United States side has taken all excuses to make unwarranted
accusations of China in the name of human rights, in the
name of so-called human rights question. This is totally
without reason and has ulterior motives.
// END ACTUALITY //
Mr. Zhu urged the United States to correct what he called
the erroneous decision to sponsor a resolution critical of
China at the U-N Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva
in March.
International efforts over the last decade to officially
censure China at the annual U-N meeting have not succeeded -
- a point referred to by Mr. Zhu.
// ZHU / INTERPRETER ACTUALITY //
If the U-S side sticks to this position, it will only lead
to another failure.
// END ACTUALITY //
In announcing the U-S decision, State Department Spokesman
James Rubin said it was motivated by restrictions on freedom
of speech, dissent and religion in China.
Still, he indicated Washington is attempting to separate
human rights from the issue of trade. Despite U-S criticism
of China's human rights record, Mr. Rubin says Washington
still intends to fight for congressional approval for
permanent normal trading relations for China. The United
States must grant this trade status to Beijing, if it wants
to enjoy the benefits of the deal it negotiated with China
to join the World Trade Organization. (signed)
NEB/HO/WD
13-Jan-2000 04:53 AM EDT (13-Jan-2000 0953 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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