Another reason why China's demands to cancel the meeting with the Dalai Lama makes no sense. If anything, there's probably a connection as the government tries to deflect attention from their human rights problems this week.
"Persecution of individuals for the peaceful expression of political views is inconsistent with internationally recognized norms of human rights," U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman said in an e-mailed statement. It was the first statement issued under his name since he took the post in August.
Asked whether China's treatment of dissidents might negatively affect its image overseas, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu responded, "There are no dissidents in China."
It was bad week here for activists: On Tuesday, a court in Sichuan province sentenced writer and activist Tan Zuoren to five years on the same charge as Liu after he investigated the deaths of thousands of children in a massive earthquake in 2008.
