Bush to grill Beijing on rights record
American envoy says Wen Jiabao will face pressure on his visit to Washington
The American ambassador to China said yesterday that the mainland's human rights record had deteriorated recently.
Clark Randt also said that US President George W. Bush would press Premier Wen Jiabao on the issue during his visit to Washington next month.
'While 2002 saw some progress, 2003 has been marred with setbacks and disappointment. In our human rights dialogue, we expect results, not [empty] talk,' said Mr Randt at a luncheon speech in Hong Kong sponsored by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
Despite US efforts to encourage China to make improvements, Mr Randt said the mainland continued to be 'marred by a lack of due process and a blatant disregard for its own rules', especially in its legal system.
The ambassador called for the release of a number of high-profile detainees, including Rebiya Kadeer, an Uyghur businesswoman who was convicted of spying in March 2000.
Mr Randt said human rights, along with trade and the North Korean nuclear crisis, would top Mr Bush's agenda when the US leader meets Mr Wen in Washington early next month.
On the Chinese agenda, Mr Randt said he expected Mr Wen to press the US administration on Taiwan.
Mr Randt reiterated recent statements by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that there had been no change on America's cross-strait policy despite media reports to the contrary.
'Mr Bush has looked the Chinese leaders in the eyes and he said he supported the one-China policy,' he said.
On the disputes over trade and currency, which have become a hot political issue in the US, Mr Randt said that the Bush administration opposed recent Congressional bills calling for a 27.5 per cent tariff on all Chinese-made goods and the repeal of permanent normal trade relations.
However, he urged the Chinese government to do more to improve market access for US businesses and to crack down on intellectual piracy. He also pushed the US government's line that the yuan should move towards a floating, market-driven exchange rate mechanism.
Despite these contentious issues, Mr Randt said Sino-US relations would continue to be in an upswing which he credited to Mr Bush's 'leadership, marked by his conviction, courage, and his long-term vision'.
He said the Bush administration appreciated China's leadership in promoting dialogue in the North Korean nuclear crisis and said the US was committed to a 'multilateral response' to the situation.
Asked how the increasingly hostile anti-China rhetoric in the run-up to the American presidential election would affect Sino-US ties, Mr Randt pledged that relations would continue to move forward.
'The path has been set regardless of the campaign slogans,' he said.