China to U.S.: Right Back at Ya

BEIJING, March 8, 2007 — -- This year's State Department annual report on human rights practices around the world puts China at the top of the list of violators repressing freedom of speech and information, including blocking access to Internet sites.

The report also says China squelches religious freedom, particularly in Tibet. It accuses officials in China of harassing and arresting reporters and activists seeking to exercise freedoms, and of discrimination against women and minorities.

For the last eight years, China has issued a rebuttal in the form of its "Human Rights Record of the United States." This year is no different. In its annual 'back-at-ya' document, China criticizes the United States for using its military might to trespass on the sovereignty of other countries and for violating human rights domestically and across the globe.

"As in previous years, the State Department pointed the finger at human rights conditions in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but avoided touching on the human rights situation in the United States," the document said.

Qin Gang, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, told reporters that China's aim is to illustrate a double standard and that the report "is like a mirror as a gift to the U.S. to let the Americans see their own human rights condition."

Qin also suggested that China would like to give the U.S. books on ideas of Confucius to "help govern the country well, help you become a good person."

China's rebuttal is distributed in China by the state-run media organization Xinhua. The United States' report on China's human rights violations is not distributed within China.

The Chinese government prides itself every year on releasing this document, as its right to hit back. Critics say it's ironic that they insist on such a protest, while many citizens in China do not get the same indulgence.