Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on US Annual Human Rights Report

(February 27, 2001)

Q: The US State Department released on 27th February its annual human rights report for year 2000, which includes criticisms of China's human rights situation. Do you have any comment?

A: The Chinese Government has all along respected the universal principle of human rights and worked vigorously for the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedom of the people in accordance with the national conditions of China. After long unremitting efforts, the livelihood of the Chinese people has experienced unprecedented improvement and the human rights and fundamental freedom that people enjoy have also been raised to unprecedented level, making now the best time in history.

This is a fact witnessed by all. Falun Gong has proved to be an out-and-out cult organization, specializing in fooling, controlling and endangering people, which has created very grave social consequences. No responsible government will adopt a laissez-faire attitude toward this kind of cults. The Chinese Government has banned and cracked down the cult of Falun Gong precisely for the purpose of safeguarding and protecting the basic human rights and freedom of the Chinese citizens, with the firm endorsement of the Chinese people across the country and popular support from the international community.

It is common knowledge that there are human rights violations within the United States. Yet while refraining from talking about it, the US Government is making willful distortions of human rights situations in other countries and uninvited remarks on the internal affairs of other countries, even to the point of openly defending cults that endanger mankind. This is completely without reason and is driven by ulterior motives. It is also a typical case in point of double standards on the question of human rights by the United States. The Chinese side expresses strong displeasure with and resolute opposition to this practice of the United States. We demand that the US side respect the basic norms governing international relations, correct its mistakes, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs through the so-called question of human rights.