U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
United States Mission to the United Nations
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New York, N.Y. 10017

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 295(08)
October 29, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement by David J. Kramer, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, to the Third Committee of the 63rd Session of the General Assembly, October 29, 2008

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Mr. Chairman, the United Nations repeatedly has recognized that respect for fundamental freedoms is linked over the long term to security and prosperity within and among states. While the United States works in cooperation with Russia and China -- fellow permanent members of the Security Council -- on important international issues such as counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and regional stability in the Middle East and North Asia, we continue to raise with them our concerns regarding the restrictions they place on the exercise of fundamental freedoms by their citizens.

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During the Olympics, China's impressive economic development was on display. Unfortunately, so were the government's efforts to restrict the fundamental freedoms of its citizens. The government silenced nearly all its critics, including human rights activist Hu Jia, and not a single protest was permitted in officially designated protest zones. The domestic press and Internet were strictly controlled and regulations relaxing restrictions on foreign journalists often were abrogated. Some religious groups and NGOs were forced to suspend activities and the level of repression in Xinjiang increased as the government further tightened controls on Uighurs following several violent incidents. Media and other international observers were denied access to Tibetan areas following March protests and the government's subsequent severe crackdown.

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