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UK fears on rights in
China
By Christopher Adams, Political Correspondent
Published: November 11 2004 02:00 | Last updated:
November 11
An influential report by Britain's
Foreign Office yesterday voiced "serious concerns"
about China's record on human rights.
It comes as the UK considers backing moves by some
European Union states to lift an arms embargo against
Beijing.
The annual report, the most comprehensive of its kind
to be produced by any western government, catalogues a
series of abuses in China and concludes there has been
"progress in some areas but no improvement in others".
Its findings are significant because Britain wants to
see improvements in China's human rights record before
lifting a blanket ban on arms exports, a measure that
was imposed by the EU after the Tianamen Square
massacre and described yesterday by Jack Straw, UK
foreign secretary, as "unusual these days".
EU foreign ministers last month postponed further
discussion about lifting the embargo until after the
US presidential elections and are unlikely to make a
decision on it until next year.
The US is lobbying fiercely to maintain the embargo
but most member states, led by France, want it removed.
Violations of human rights in China included extensive
use of the death penalty, torture, harassment of
political dissidents, and severe restrictions on the
freedoms of speech, association and religion.
Reports were also cited of abuses in Xinjiang, a
province where the Foreign Office highlighted claims
that China was using the war on terror to abuse the
rights of the Uyghur community; and a campaign of
political education in monasteries in Tibet.
However, while it identified fresh setbacks in the
last year, including the harassment and prosecution of
journalists, the report also found "encouraging
developments".
Mr Straw sidestepped questions on whether he wanted
the embargo lifted, saying it was under EU discussion.
Many member states see the ban as an outdated symbol
of a pariah status Beijing no longer deserves.
The UK is among those calling for a tougher code of
conduct on exports before the ban is lifted.
On human rights, it may take the view that what
matters is whether there has been improvement since
1989.
Amnesty International said the government should "consider
very strongly China's human rights record before
making a decision ... we want to see a considerable
improvement".
Saferworld, an arms control pressure group, questioned
whether the UK government's foreign policy on human
rights was being undermined by arms sales to countries
with dubious human rights records.
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