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China leaves human rights talks

China suspended its human rights dialogue with the US yesterday, saying it had no alternative after Washington proposed a resolution to the UN to condemn Beijing's rights record.

"The Chinese side cannot but immediately halt bilateral human rights dialogue and exchanges," Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang told US Ambassador Clark Randt, according to a foreign ministry statement.

"The United States should bear all consequences that might arise from this," Shen said.

The US urged a UN watchdog on Monday to condemn China's "backsliding" on human rights despite Beijing's warning the move could affect warming Sino-US ties.

The US has said China made some improvements in 2002 but that last year its rights record deteriorated with such abuses as extrajudicial killings, torture and the repression of religious and political groups opposed to the government.

Washington decided against such a censure last year and China told the US to "think three times" about introducing a critical resolution.

Shen said Washington went back on its word to "suddenly" announce the resolution amid consultations between the two.

"The United States' insistence on provoking confrontation has seriously damaged the foundation of our two countries' human rights dialogue and exchange," Shen was quoted as saying.

He accused the US of "double standards" and said China's government cared more about human rights domestically than any country. He also pointed out a host of legal steps China has taken recently in an attempt to better protect human rights, including a constitutional amendment.

A US embassy spokesman de-clined to comment.

While the US targets abuses of individual liberties, China insists that protecting basic human rights means sheltering, clothing and feeding its 1.3 billion people, and preserving social stability.

The US proposed the resolution at the annual session of the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Commission and sought to win supporters for its draft, particularly from the EU, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

A condemnation from the 53-member commission in Geneva, which began its six-week session last week, brings no penalties but spotlights a country's behavior.

Ties between the US and China, often strained by disagreement over issues such as human rights, trade and Taiwan, have improved in recent years. Despite differences over rights Boucher said relations with China were the best they have been for decades.
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