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

The White House

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 7, 2008

Press Briefing by Tony Fratto and United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

12:38 P.M. EDT

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

Q: And secondly, while the President was overseas, The Washington Post published an editorial headlined "Olympic Games Over Truth," as well as devoting most of its op-ed page to a plea from now-imprisoned Hu Jia, who detailed Olympic host China's massive violations of human rights. And my question: Would the President support having our Olympic teams compete in the United States, at the same time of their Olympic events in China with joint-timing, as far better than our teams and our President going to and dignifying this brutal dictatorship?

MR. FRATTO: I think our views on this have been very clear, and the President's views on this have been very clear, that we have a great deal of concern about human rights in China, and the tools that are available to people in free democracies, free speech, and freedom of assembly. And we have never been afraid to express those views either directly by the President, or the President's senior advisors when they travel to China, and publicly. The Olympics will take place, and we expect the Olympic -- American qualifying Olympic athletes to participate in those games.

Q: But the President is going to go there and support this brutal dictatorship instead of pulling out, as so many people have pleaded with him to pull out.

MR. FRATTO: Yes, I think we've answered this question many times, Les. And I don't think I have anything new to add to it.

Q: Thank you, Tony.

MR. FRATTO: Thank you.

END

1:07 P.M. EDT