Feb 11, 2009

China- Australia Talks Raise Controversies


Bilateral talks between China and Australia raise tension with system and seen as  too soft on human rights issues. 

 

Below is an article published by: ABC

China has rebuffed concerns about human rights in Tibet and used annual human rights talks to quiz the Federal Government about the treatment of Aboriginals.

China's Assistant Foreign Minister, Liu Jieyi, said Australian concerns about human rights in Tibet were unfounded.

"It is not an issue about human rights or religious freedom or culture," he said.

"I believe the Australian side is very much aware of the Chinese position on this issue.

"The important thing in understanding this issue is that we must base our opinions on solid facts."

China has faced international criticism that it represses religious and political freedoms in Tibet, which it considers to be part of China.

The Australia-China talks came as China faces United Nations scrutiny of its human rights at a meeting in Geneva, where China insists it is guided by the rule of law and is committed to protect and promote human rights.

China is Australia's top trading partner and a major customer for Australian natural resources.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - who speaks fluent Mandarin - has made strengthening ties with China a key foreign policy objective.

He has not been stopped from raising human rights issues directly with China's leadership - making a speech last year on human rights in Tibet in Mandarin to Chinese students in Beijing.

'No country's perfect'

But Mr Liu says no country could claim a perfect record on human rights, adding China continued to make progress.

"China is a developing country and as such will of course face challenges in promoting social progress in China and in promotion of human rights," he said.

Australian officials said they used the bilateral talks in Canberra to raise human rights in Tibet, as well as freedom of expression and religion in China, the treatment of political prisoners, torture, the death penalty and rights for women.

They say China's human rights had improved "considerably" over the past 30 years.

Mr Liu said the human rights talks - the 12th between Australia and China - were wide-ranging and gave both countries a chance to better understand issues of concern.

"For example, the Chinese side wished to learn how the Australian Government is taking measures on the issue of Indigenous people," he said.

Aboriginals make up about 2 per cent of Australia's population, but suffer far higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse and domestic violence, and have a life expectancy 17 years shorter than other Australians.