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| In parting speech, U.S. ambassador urges China to improve human rights record | In parting speech, U.S. ambassador urges China to improve human rights record |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BEIJING — Outgoing U.S. ambassador Gary Locke broached some of China’s most sensitive topics in his last public appearance here, urging Chinese authorities on Thursday to improve human rights conditions, rapidly deteriorating relations with Japan and a growing distrust of the party among China’s wealthy. | BEIJING — Outgoing U.S. ambassador Gary Locke broached some of China’s most sensitive topics in his last public appearance here, urging Chinese authorities on Thursday to improve human rights conditions, rapidly deteriorating relations with Japan and a growing distrust of the party among China’s wealthy. |
| “We very much are concerned about the arrests and detentions of people who are engaged in peaceful advocacy,” said Locke, mentioning by name an outspoken ethnic minority scholar who was arrested and charged Tuesday with “separatism” by Chinese authorities. | “We very much are concerned about the arrests and detentions of people who are engaged in peaceful advocacy,” said Locke, mentioning by name an outspoken ethnic minority scholar who was arrested and charged Tuesday with “separatism” by Chinese authorities. |
| U.S. officials are “very concerned” about the professor Ilham Tohti, a known advocate among China’s Uighur Muslim minorities. | U.S. officials are “very concerned” about the professor Ilham Tohti, a known advocate among China’s Uighur Muslim minorities. |
| The Chinese government has not reacted well to Locke’s parting criticism. Responding to similar words by Locke in a farewell speech on Wednesday, Spokeswoman Hua Chunying of China’s Foreign Ministry said, “We oppose any person using these so-called issues to interfere in China’s internal affair and make thoughtless remarks and criticize summarily.” Hua argued that China’s current human rights have greatly improved when compared to previous decades. | The Chinese government has not reacted well to Locke’s parting criticism. Responding to similar words by Locke in a farewell speech on Wednesday, Spokeswoman Hua Chunying of China’s Foreign Ministry said, “We oppose any person using these so-called issues to interfere in China’s internal affair and make thoughtless remarks and criticize summarily.” Hua argued that China’s current human rights have greatly improved when compared to previous decades. |
| “There’s been great prosperity and an increase in the quality of life and the standard of living here in China,” Locke responded on Thursday, but added, “Human rights is more than just economic prosperity and economic conditions of people, but also fundamental universal rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the ability to practice one’s own religion.” | “There’s been great prosperity and an increase in the quality of life and the standard of living here in China,” Locke responded on Thursday, but added, “Human rights is more than just economic prosperity and economic conditions of people, but also fundamental universal rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the ability to practice one’s own religion.” |
| Locke said the lack of rule of law and neutral judicial system is why China’s super-rich have increasingly hedged against sudden arrests by the government and seizure of assets by seeking shelter in foreign countries like the U.S. — through visas or children born abroad. | Locke said the lack of rule of law and neutral judicial system is why China’s super-rich have increasingly hedged against sudden arrests by the government and seizure of assets by seeking shelter in foreign countries like the U.S. — through visas or children born abroad. |
| And raising concern about increasing Japan-China tensions, which threaten to entangle the U.S., Locke said, ““It’s important that both sides lower the temperature and focus on diplomacy… “The last thing we need is some unintended incident that leads to unintended consequences, very severe consequences.” | And raising concern about increasing Japan-China tensions, which threaten to entangle the U.S., Locke said, ““It’s important that both sides lower the temperature and focus on diplomacy… “The last thing we need is some unintended incident that leads to unintended consequences, very severe consequences.” |
| During his past two and a half years as ambassador, Locke, who is departing China on March 1, has guided the U.S.-China relationship through some of its most fraught incidents in recent memory. He touched on them Thursday, recalling the high-stakes negotiations between U.S. and Chinese officials over a blind dissident – Chen Guangcheng – who took shelter at the U.S. Embassy as well as the attempted defection of a Communist Party insider that triggered fallout among party leadership. | During his past two and a half years as ambassador, Locke, who is departing China on March 1, has guided the U.S.-China relationship through some of its most fraught incidents in recent memory. He touched on them Thursday, recalling the high-stakes negotiations between U.S. and Chinese officials over a blind dissident – Chen Guangcheng – who took shelter at the U.S. Embassy as well as the attempted defection of a Communist Party insider that triggered fallout among party leadership. |
| Locke also touted two of his biggest accomplishments of his tenure: cutting down U.S. visa wait times for Chinese trying to visit and multiplying by many fold the amount of Chinese investment pouring into the U.S. | Locke also touted two of his biggest accomplishments of his tenure: cutting down U.S. visa wait times for Chinese trying to visit and multiplying by many fold the amount of Chinese investment pouring into the U.S. |
| While he remained vague on his post-China plans, Locke said he plans to continue contributing to U.S.-China exchanges and U.S. business interests in China. He ruled out running for any future public office, but said he would actively help other candidates’ campaigns. | While he remained vague on his post-China plans, Locke said he plans to continue contributing to U.S.-China exchanges and U.S. business interests in China. He ruled out running for any future public office, but said he would actively help other candidates’ campaigns. |
| And he said he has talked several times by phone with his successor former U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Montana), who was sworn in Feb. 21 and is expected to arrive in Beijing in coming weeks. Locke said his biggest advice to Baucus was to get out of Beijing and travel China as widely as possible, to better understand the country’s most pressing challenges and coming changes. | And he said he has talked several times by phone with his successor former U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Montana), who was sworn in Feb. 21 and is expected to arrive in Beijing in coming weeks. Locke said his biggest advice to Baucus was to get out of Beijing and travel China as widely as possible, to better understand the country’s most pressing challenges and coming changes. |
| During his tenure, Locke has been one of the most publicly recognized and popular U.S. ambassadors in Chinese history, due to his status as the first ethnic Chinese in the position. | During his tenure, Locke has been one of the most publicly recognized and popular U.S. ambassadors in Chinese history, due to his status as the first ethnic Chinese in the position. |
| It resulted in public fascination here spawning endless photos and discussions about him on China’s version of Twitter, in which Chinese often compared his no-frills, man-of-the-people style favorably to China’s often out-of-touch party leaders. | It resulted in public fascination here spawning endless photos and discussions about him on China’s version of Twitter, in which Chinese often compared his no-frills, man-of-the-people style favorably to China’s often out-of-touch party leaders. |
| The latest result of that public fascination was an appearance in this month’s Chinese edition of Men’s Health, which put him on the cover clad in a tight black shirt highlighting an impressively muscular torso. | |
| Reflecting on his dual roles as both American representative and ethnic Chinese descendant, Locke ended his final press conference on Thursday saying, | Reflecting on his dual roles as both American representative and ethnic Chinese descendant, Locke ended his final press conference on Thursday saying, |
| “I’m proud of my Chinese heritage. I’m proud of the great contributions that China has made to world civilization over thousands of years. But I’m thoroughly American. I’m proud of the great values that America has brought to the entire world and all that America stands for.” | “I’m proud of my Chinese heritage. I’m proud of the great contributions that China has made to world civilization over thousands of years. But I’m thoroughly American. I’m proud of the great values that America has brought to the entire world and all that America stands for.” |