China responds to human rights record

Human rights is a thorny issue in China; China’s government considers it a blunt political weapon used by the West to beat China into submission. An increasingly confident China has been pushing back, and China’s Premier did that today after the Amnesty International report was released. The Chinese government says it should be recognized the strides it’s made in improving living standards and doubling the average life span over the last half-century. And the government has allowed more personal freedoms than even 10-15 years ago. But there are still limits and those who push the limits too hard risk end up landing in prison and many have. This Amnesty International official says human rights have become tighter in the ramp up to the Olympics, with media censorship and crackdowns on domestic human rights activists. This Human Rights Watch also talks about residents being forcibly evicted, construction workers working in sub-standard conditions, and critics being jailed. The report says this goes against China’s promise that it would improve its human rights record if it was awarded the Games. But IOC President said three months ago that China made no such contractual promise. Since then he has said it’s best for the IOC to engage in silent diplomacy and keep the Olympics focused on sports, an approach which China likes. This analyst says the IOC should learn from this procedure and make changes in awarding future Games. For its part, the Chinese government has already shrugged off the Amnesty International report and knows most Chinese are excited about the Games.