China refutes U.S. criticism on human rights

By:Xinhua
update:April 24,2018

BEIJING, April 24, 2018 -- China on Monday called a recent U.S. report on human rights "biased," saying its attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs was "doomed to fail."

"China has lodged representations to the United States over it," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang at a daily press briefing.

His comments were made with reference to the global human rights report for 2017 released by the U.S. State Department, which criticized human rights in China.

"The United States releases such report year after year, and points fingers at other countries. Most members of the international community are disgusted with this," Lu said.

He said this year's report, as always, ignored facts and was heavily biased.

"China has clearly informed the United States that its attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs and hinder China's development was in vain in the past, and will not succeed in the future," Lu said.

"The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting and advancing human rights,and historic progress has been achieved in human rights. The Chinese people have the best say in this regard," he said.

"China is in favor of talks and exchanges among countries on human rights based on equality and mutual trust," he said. "Most countries, including China, are opposed to politicizing the human rights issue."

Following are the MFA spokesperson's remarks on this issue:

Q: We noted that the US State Department has issued the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. Some analysts believe that the US augments criticism on its "strategic rivals" in the report while keeping silent about the human rights problems of its allies and itself. By doing this, the US has forgone its moral legitimacy in criticizing others on the human rights issue. What's your comment?

A: The comments you cited in your question faithfully represent a long-standing view held by vast members of the international community.

This annual report that the US keeps issuing to make irresponsible accusations against others has been an object of aversion for most members of the international community. The China-related contents of this year's report are just like their previous ones, void of facts but full of bias. We have lodged stern representations with the US side and made it clear that if they attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs and impede China's development in this way, their previous reports have all failed to do so, nor are their future ones going to make it.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting and promoting human rights. Since the establishment of the New China, in particular over the past four decades of reform and opening-up, historic progress has been made in China's human rights cause. For this, the Chinese people have the biggest say.

We agree that countries could conduct equal-footed dialogues and exchanges on the human rights issues on the basis of mutual trust so as to learn from each other and improve together. Meanwhile, most members of the international community, China included, oppose politicalizing the human rights issues.

(Extracted from Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on April 23, 2018)