China's human rights record worsened last year in areas that included harassment of dissidents and repression of ethnic minorities such as Tibetans, the State Department said today, Bloomberg reported.
Chinese authorities committed killings and torture outside the legal system, coerced confessions of prisoners and used forced labor, the department said in its 2008 report. The government also "increased detention and harassment of dissidents, petitioners, human rights defenders and defense lawyers," the department said in the study.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said U.S. security is enhanced by rights improvements around the world and she intends to reach out beyond governments to seek gains. She didn't talk specifically about China, a country she visited last week.
"I'm looking for results," Clinton told reporters as she introduced the human rights assessment, the first issued on her watch. "I am looking for changes that actually improve the lives of the greatest numbers of people."
Clinton drew criticism during her Asia tour for saying U.S. expressions of concern over human rights in China won't preclude cooperation on issues such as the global economic crisis and terrorism.
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