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China expresses dissatisfaction with US human rights remarks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-27 09:27

BEIJING -- China on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction with a US official's comments on China's human rights issues, and urged the US government to educate its citizens to obey the laws of other countries.

"The Chinese Government has been all along committed to safeguarding and promoting human rights of its citizens," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference.

"We make efforts in this area not because of the Beijing Olympics and they will not stop after the Olympics."

On Monday, White House spokesman Tony Fratto expressed disappointment at China's handling of protests during the Games, saying it had missed an opportunity to improve its global human rights image.

Qin said safeguarding and promoting human rights of its citizens has been written into China's constitution. The government would continue to make efforts in this area.

"Meanwhile, during the Olympics, some foreigners engaged in 'Tibet independence' separatist activities in Beijing. As they had violated Chinese laws and regulations, it's natural that relevant departments took necessary measures against them," he said.

"We hope the US side would educate its citizens to obey the laws of other countries, so as to avoid the recurrence of such incidents," he said.

He suggested the White House spokesman look up remarks by former US President Abraham Lincoln in his inaugural address on preserving unification of the nation.

"Then he can understand the determination and efforts of the Chinese people in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity and stop applying double standards on this issue," said Qin.