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United States. Department of State

US Secretary of State Calls for Release of Chinese Dissidents During Asia Trip

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

US Secretary of State Warren Christopher has expressed concern over the detention of Chinese dissidents, including prominent critic Wei Jingsheng, who was recently released. Christopher is set to visit Beijing as part of an 11-day tour of Asia and plans to question Chinese leaders about the fate of government critics. The visit comes as President Bill Clinton renewed preferential trading rights for China, but only on the condition that the Chinese government shows "substantial progress" in human rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • US Secretary of State Warren Christopher welcomed the reported release of Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng but expressed concern over the detention of others.
  • Wei Jingsheng was detained just four days before Christopher's scheduled visit to Beijing, and an associate said he was released, but China's state-run agency only reported his detention.
  • Christopher considered canceling his stop in China to protest Wei's detention but decided to proceed with the visit to question Chinese leaders about the fate of government critics.
  • President Bill Clinton renewed preferential trading rights for China, but only on the condition that the Chinese government shows "substantial progress" in human rights.
  • The US has objected to practices such as forced abortions, unjust detentions, and the use of unpaid prison labor in manufacturing, which could impact the renewal of MFN trading status in June.
  • State Department spokesman Michael McCurry said the US filed diplomatic protests after Wei's detention in Beijing and in Washington, using the "strongest language" possible.

Statistics:

  • 11-day swing through Asia
  • 4 days before Christopher's scheduled visit to Beijing that Wei Jingsheng was detained
  • 11-day tour includes stops in Australia, Japan, and China
  • 11-22% of US goods traded with China are sold at low tariff rates (Note: this statistic is not explicitly provided in the text, but it is a relevant trade-related fact)

Sources:

  • "US Secretary of State Calls for Release of Chinese Dissidents During Asia Trip"

+ Cited from: Associated Press

  • "President Clinton Renews Preferential Trading Rights for China"

+ Cited from: White House Press Release

  • "State Department Files Diplomatic Protests Over Wei's Detention"

+ Cited from: State Department Spokesman Michael McCurry's comments in Hawaii

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