China has detained activists, tightened controls over the Internet, Chinese news media as well as harassed foreign journalists. Chinese officials have wrongly imprisoned Liu Xiaobo, last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner and Feng Xue, an American geologist accused of stealing state secrets. Most recently, Chinese security officers detained Beijing artist, Ai Weiwei. Following his arrest, his wife and a number of his staff were detained for questioning and have not been released.
In the Four Seasons Hotel on Wednesday, in front of prominent Chinese scholars and officials, the U.S. ambassador to China, Jon M. Huntsman openly criticized China’s human rights record. He stated: “The United States will never stop supporting human rights because we believe in the fundamental struggle for human dignity and justice wherever it may occur…We cannot move forward if, when differences emerge, only one of us is fully engaged.” There is speculation that after Mr. Huntsman leaves his diplomatic post this month, he will seek the Republican nomination for president.
My objectives in writing the summary to this article are to emphasize the sensitive nature of Chinese officials towards activists and the suppression of media. Let us not be surprised by the Chinese view of politics and human rights. Also, let us avoid accusations of stealing “state secrets”. On another note, wouldn’t it be great to have Jon M. Huntsman run for the Republican nomination for president?
