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

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 18, 2008

2:01 p.m. EDT

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QUESTION: So you don't think -- you don't think reforms are possible?

MR. MCCORMACK: What does it amount to? How does it change the ability of the Cuban people to really, for themselves, decide what their -- what the future of their country is going to look like? You have a situation now in which a handful of people who have been in place for the past several decades determine the direction of this country, what happens in the country, whether or not people can express their opinion freely in the town square, which they cannot. That situation qualitatively has not changed from, you know, today to 10 years ago to 20 years ago.

QUESTION: So are you talking about Cuba or China?

QUESTION: Or Saudi Arabia? (Laughter.)

MR. MCCORMACK: Okay.

QUESTION: No, I mean, can I put you on --

QUESTION: No, Sean, I'm serious. You've just described something that -- you know, you -- that's a situation in some countries that you're very friendly with.

MR. MCCORMACK: The situations are qualitatively different. Now we -- for example, China; you look at the political and human rights situation, absolutely, we have stark differences there, but you also see a situation where, economically, the Chinese people have many more opportunities than they had (inaudible).

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(The briefing was concluded at 2:20 p.m.)