China accuses U.S. of gross interference

Press, 27 June 1987, Page 11

China accuses U.S. of gross interference

NZPA-Reuter Peking China accused the United States of gross interference in its internal affairs yesterday after criticism in Congress about human rights in Tibet and in China as a whole. The New China News Agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as voicing “strong indignation and resentment” at the criticism expressed by the House of Representatives. The House, passed a State Department authorisation bill on Tuesday and sent it to the Senate for action. It contained two amendments regarding China. One called on China’s leaders to “take necessary steps towards establishing a more democratic society, with a free and open political system that will protect the essential human rights of all people living within that country.”

The other amendment accused China of human rights violations in Tibet and ordered the State Department to report within 60 days to Congress on the human rights situation there. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said its embassy in Washington had been instructed to make solemn representations to the State Department about the issue.

“The two amendments .... are a serious distortion of the true situation in China’s internal affairs, thus hurting the feelings of the Chinese people,” the spokesman said. China is acutely sensitive to criticism of its policies in Tibet, where exile groups say thousands of political prisoners remain in jails and labour camps. Peking denies having any political prisoners.