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China Angry Over Clinton's Speech
China upset with Clinton's Tiananmen remarks
Posted By Preeti Aroon
Friday, June 5, 2009 - 3:14 PM
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China has expressed "strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition" to Secretary Clinton's statements marking the 20th anniversary of the military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protesters. (In the photo above, the People's Liberation Army guards a street leading to Tiananmen Square on June 6, 1989, two days after the infamous crackdown.)
On June 3, Clinton called on the Chinese government to "provide a public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, both to learn and to heal." She also said China should "give the rule of law, protection of internationally-recognized human rights, and democratic development the same priority as it has given to economic reform."
In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized Clinton for "crudely meddling in Chinese domestic affairs." He also said, "We urge the United States to forsake its prejudices, correct its erroneous ways and avoid obstructing and damaging China-U.S. relations."
The Chinese government has never published a count of those who died. A New York Times article yesterday stated that hundreds died.
The bold tone of Clinton's remarks are a contrast to those she made in February, in which she seemed to downplay human rights as a priority.
Photo: MANUEL CENETA/AFP/Getty Images
You're damned if you do stand up to China, and damned if you don't, but I say go right on crudely meddling in their domestic affairs!
The US has long been (and continues to be) more than gracious to China, largely due to the severity of the economic situation but that doesn't mean we have to become party to China's crimes and subsequent cover-ups. Every time an official publicly speaks out about China's horrendous human rights record, China responds the same way- by having the diplomatic equivalent of a temper tantrum and threatening that US-China ties will be severely hampered by continued US meddling in their affairs. Whatever.
China is currently trying to pressure the administration into not having an official meeting with the Dalai Lama when he comes back to the US later this year, saying once again that the US is "meddling" in their internal affairs. Apparently, China doesn't seem to understand that their insistence on having a say in who does and doesn't get an invite to the White House, is a bit meddlesome also.
I hope to God Obama doesn't cave to this pressure and refuse to meet with the Dalai Lama.
China blocked Twitter, most international news sites, youtube and many email hosts prior to, and during, the Tiananmen Sq. Anniversary- not exactly the type of thing a govt does if they think the truth is on their side and that they have nothing to hide. So perhaps China isn't as strong as they'd like everyone to think?
You keep on speaking out, Hillary! Everyone knows Hillary has always been concerned with the human rights situation in China and that gives her tremendous credibility in terms of making human rights there an important part of US diplomacy.
Someone makes a statement about China's previous and/or ongoing missteps, and China responds saying something along the lines of "crudely meddling in Chinese domestic affairs" this is nothing new. At the moment preserving the status quo economic growth is the number one priority for China. This economic growth comes with some expenses, one being human rights. Asia Chronicle (www.asiachroniclenews.net) had a discussion about the direction China is heading.
Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America's top diplomat.
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