Monday, June 11, 2007

The Real Gains in China

My letter to the Post:

WEI XIN has it wrong when he says: “Today, people of all ethnic groups in China enjoy unprecedented freedom in choosing occupations, lifestyles and migration, obtaining information, and practicing religious belief.” Wei obviously doesn’t really know what is going on in Communist China. That is the China that harvests organs from living Falun Gong prisoners of conscience, where the old and young are tortured for their beliefs and where the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. Seriously, Wei should give his head a shake--Communist China is nothing but a big jail for freedom fighters and religious believers. It is a travesty that the Games were given to this brutal dictatorship in the first place. And if it weren’t for geopolitics, the Games would be hosted by a country that values human lives more than money.


Washington Post: Sunday, June 10, 2007; Page B06 - Regarding the May 29 editorial "China's Games," ***pasted below*** accusing China of persistent human rights violations: We consider The Post's arguments to be ungrounded and unacceptable.

The Chinese government is firm in safeguarding and developing the rights of the Chinese people. Over the past 29 years, since the adoption of reforms and a policy of greater openness, the living standards of the Chinese people have improved greatly. In the meantime, China has made tremendous progress in political, social and cultural undertakings.

Today, people of all ethnic groups in China enjoy unprecedented freedom in choosing occupations, lifestyles and migration, obtaining information, and practicing religious belief. The openness and pluralism in contemporary Chinese society are self-evident to people without prejudice.

Regarding Darfur, China shares the same objective as other countries and has made unremitting efforts. China hopes the Darfur issue can be resolved politically through dialogue and consultation under the joint efforts of the international community, to relieve the humanitarian situation in the region at an early date and achieve regional peace and stability.

The Chinese people are making all necessary preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. We are confident and capable of hosting an exceptional Olympic Games. It is not appropriate to politicize the sports gala by linking it to the Darfur issue. Such attempts are irresponsible and doomed to fail.

WEI XIN
Press Attache
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
Washington

OLYMPIC WATCH: Human Rights in China and Beijing 2008

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