In an annual US report on human rights around the world, China’s record has ‘worsened’ in some areas; repression of dissidents and Tibetans was outlined as a key cause for concern in the report. This report follows US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s trip to China, during which she pledged the importance of co-operation in spite of lingering tensions.

China was not alone at the foot of the list, with both Russia and North Korea receiving poor reviews for the 2008 year, the last of George W. Bush’s 8 years as President. Whilst Russia was reported to have “continued a negative trajectory” and North Korea was termed as “abysmal”, Mrs. Clinton prefaced the report by vowing to acknowledge Washington’s own human rights track record.

Mrs. Clinton received criticism from human rights activist groups in regard to the amount of discussion on the subject during her visit, though she assured the public that candid discussions did take place. Other areas of concern included religious and ethnic oppression, and freedom of speech.

“Not only will we seek to live up to our ideals on American soil, we will pursue greater respect for human rights as we engage other nations and people around the world,” — Hilary Clinton

The report lists offenses such as “extrajudicial killings and torture, coerced confessions of prisoners, and … forced labour”.

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