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China `showers aid' on abusive regimes, says rights group

Human Rights Watch yesterday accused China of putting its own economic and political interests above concern for mistreated people around the world by "showering aid" on countries known for widespread abuse.

While Chinese officials struck deals in resource-rich places like Sudan, Zimbabwe and Myanmar last year, Beijing "studiously avoided" using the influence that comes with a booming economy to promote better human rights, the prominent independent rights group said in its annual report released yesterday.

"Instead, it insists on dealing with other governments, in the words of President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), `without any political strings,'" the report said, describing China's stance on human rights as ranging "from indifference to hostility."

The report also denounced Beijing's internal policies, saying China confronted rising social tension by tightening control over the press, the Internet and aid groups.

Last year, China rejected the report as "highly biased."

The report noted some signs that "China's reluctance to meddle in others' affairs might be easing somewhat" -- citing pressure on Sudan to allow UN peacekeeping forces into Darfur and a strong stance following North Korea's nuclear test in October.

But it was blistering in its view that China should be doing more. Chinese oil investments, the report said, spur Sudan's economy, encouraging "Khartoum to pursue its slaughter in Darfur and leaving it flush with funds to purchase arms [sometimes Chinese] for the fighting."

More pressure from China on Sudan would reverse the impression that China "is more interested in continuing the flow of oil to its growing economy" than it is "in staunching the flow of blood in Darfur."

In Myanmar, where the military regime continues to detain hundreds of political prisoners, and in other parts of Asia, the group said, "China is showering aid on human rights abusing governments."

Other world powers were criticized by the rights group for "being so busy cutting their own trade deals with China that they rarely voiced concern about Beijing's inhumane behavior at home or abroad."

In China last year, the group said several politically motivated prosecutions of reporters and lawyers, ended "any hopes that President Hu Jintao would be a progressive reformer and sent an unambiguous warning to individuals and groups pressing for greater respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of Chinese citizens."
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