Biden Pushes China on Human Rights

The Hill reports:

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confronted China Monday over its recent crackdown on dissent at the opening of talks that are also expected to feature frank discussions about the U.S. budget deficit and China’s undervalued currency.

Speaking at the opening of the annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Biden said the United States welcomes a strong China, but “there is one area where we have vigorous disagreement. ... We have vigorous disagreement in the area of human rights."

“We have noted our concern about the recent crackdown, ” Biden said of the detention of public-interest lawyers, journalists, bloggers and artists.

Biden acknowledged that China is “rankled” by talk from U.S. officials about human rights, but he said the U.S. will continue to raise the issue and argue that China’s future prosperity and stability require it to become more free.

“I recognize that some see our advocacy of human rights as an intrusion and Lord only knows what else,” he said.

But Clinton told her Chinese counterparts, “Societies that work toward respecting human rights are going to be more prosperous, stable and successful.”

She said she is worried about the effect China’s treatment of dissidents might have on U.S. domestic politics and noted that some in the U.S. view China as a threat.