U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2009)

U.S. Department of State

Briefing by Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer

Washington, DC
October 2, 2009

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QUESTION: Madame, on this 60th anniversary of China -- Communist China, China has been a major player on the UN Security Council for many, many years, and also major violators of human rights. What do you have to say?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BRIMMER: Well, I would just say we note that this is the 60th anniversary, and that they had particular celebrations of that particular event, and that they are active members in the entire United Nations system.

QUESTION: But millions are suffering under China's rule, and they have no human rights. They are asking the world, or even the UN or the United States, for human rights and free speech and freedom of the press, and --

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BRIMMER: We have always stressed --

QUESTION: -- whatever you said.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BRIMMER: We have always stressed, whether -- in human rights bodies, whether in the Human Rights Council or in its predecessor, the Human Rights Commission, the role of universality of human rights, and adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

QUESTION: -- whatever you said.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BRIMMER: We have always stressed, whether -- in human rights bodies, whether in the Human Rights Council or in its predecessor, the Human Rights Commission, the role of universality of human rights, and adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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