Beijing - U.S.: human rights summit underway, amid some hypocrisy
Beijing (AsiaNews) – Official representatives of the Chinese and U.S.governments are meeting today for a two-day meeting behind closed doors to talk about human rights. But other activists fighting for years against human rights violations warn: "These meetings produce few results. We hope that Washington really wants to focus on the violations and not simply the opportunity to make a good impression. "
The Chinese delegation will be led by director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chen Xu, while the U.S. will be represented by the assistant secretary of state with the human rights and forced labour portfolio Michael Posner. A document published by Foggy Bottom reads: " Discussions will focus on human rights developments, including the recent negative trend of forced disappearances, extra-legal detentions, and arrests and convictions."
For its part, Beijing has reiterated its refrain: "We - said government spokesman Hong Lei - oppose any country that uses human rights to interfere in China's internal affairs."
The dialogues in the field of human rights between the two countries were suspended for several years during the first and the second Bush administration. The resumed in 2008, on the edge of the presidential election, but so far have not produced concrete results. The agenda for the summit today should be the case of Ai Weiwei, a famous artist and human rights activist arrested a few weeks ago, and raids against Protestant Christians made in major Chinese cities.
Some analysts believe that the recent campaign of repression was launched by Beijing to avoid a "jasmine revolution" similar to the one underway in the Middle East and North Africa, while others think it is a way for the new Chinese political class to demonstrate their strength. In any case, China seems more worried than usual and, through its press, has strongly emphasized its difference from Arab governments under siege in recent days.
However, groups working on the ground for the defence of human rights in China are sceptical. Renee Xia, International Director of Chinese Human Rights Defender, said: " Such closed-door meetings between officials from two governments with sharply different views on human rights have produced very few concrete results. But the U.S. government can and must use these meetings to hold the Chinese government accountable to its international and constitutional obligations to protect human rights".
According to NGOs, the timing of the meetings is also suspect: "In less than two weeks from now the strategic and economic dialogue between China and the United States takes place in Washington, an opportunity to renegotiate interest rates on foreign U.S. debt in the hands of Beijing. Even if the U.S. uses these meetings to exert a form of pressure, they must try to obtain as much as possible".
Mao Yushi, a liberal economist who lives in the Chinese capital, is rather optimistic: "Every foreign voice against the violation is welcome, especially now that the situation in China seems to be the worst for years. Of course, there is an economic "coincidence", but its welcome, if it can help free people. "
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