World leaders quiet on China’s human rights record and focus on money, says censored author Yan Lianke
Novelist who has found success overseas challenges visiting politicians to raise the matter with China
Chinese author Yan Lianke, whose works are banned in his heavily censored homeland, has urged world leaders not to shy away from confronting China about its human rights record.
Yan, whose frank portrayals of Chinese life have prompted years of state censorship, said leaders flocking to China had become too focused on economic ties.
The 60-year-old novelist told Agence France-Presse that Beijing needed to face up to its human rights issues, but visiting politicians “don’t really care about these things now”.
“The problem is they don’t seem to be talking about it as much as they used to,” he said ahead of his first British festival appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Monday.
“They seem more about trade and money and agreements.”