The United States is set to launch fresh criticism of China's human rights record tonight, in a move that could further galvanise Beijing's critics in Washington.
The annual State Department report on global human rights is expected to be dominated by warnings of a worsening situation on the mainland, administration sources said.
The crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement, continued abuses in Tibet and ongoing religious and political suppression will be detailed as part of a 'deterioration' in the past year.
The report will be used to justify a US-sponsored drive for a censure motion against China at the annual meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva next month.
The US has already privately briefed China on the effort, sparking protests from Beijing. China is understood to be preparing denunciations of the publication of the report.
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth this week warned senators that human rights issues remain a 'significant problem' as other areas in the relationship slowly returned to normal.
The US is seeking action at Geneva due to 'clear evidence that China's human rights record has deteriorated seriously over the past year', Mr Roth told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
