by Paul Richter
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today that she is setting aside contentious issues such as human rights in talks this weekend with the Chinese because "we pretty much know what they are going to say."
While little headway is considered possible on human rights or on China's policies toward Tibet and Taiwan, Clinton said progress is more likely on other urgent global issues, such as the economic crisis, climate change and international security.
Clinton's weeklong tour of Asia culminates with meetings in China, where she is remembered for a tough 1994 speech on human rights. But she said after years of pressing Beijing, the dialogue on human rights, freedom for Tibet and accommodation with Taiwan has grown predictable.
"We know what they're going to say because I've had those kinds of conversations for more than a decade with Chinese leaders," Clinton told reporters. "We have to continue to press them. But our pressing on these issues can't interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis."
Clinton wants a broader dialogue with China as an important feature of her tenure, including the issues of environment, security and the economy.
But she faces challenges on the difficult questions of rights, which are followed with intense interest by important constituencies, some tied to her Democratic base.
Clinton said she planned to visit a state-sanctioned church on Sunday morning, but does not wish to draw heightened attention to the stop.
"My intention was just to go to church," she said.
She plans also to talk to some Chinese who are not connected to the government. Human rights issues may come up in those conversationsm, but aides said she plans no special meetings with human rights activists.
Chinese officials have said they welcome a broadened dialogue with the United States, but it is unclear how enthusiastic they are about those conversations. Chinese officials have been participating in wide ranging talks with U.S. officials, but economic issues have dominated.
Clinton traveled to China after a one-day visit to South Korea, which ended with a strong statement of support for the embattled South Korean government and stern words for North Korea.
In an appearance with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung hwan, Clinton said North Korea "is not going to get a different relationship with the United States while insulting and refusing dialogue with (South Korea)."
She referred to North Korea as a "tyranny," and, later in the day, as the "hermit kingdom," referring to its secretive nature.
South Korea's government has been worried that the Obama administration's declared interest in talking to adversaries might weaken its traditionally strong relationship with Seoul. U.S. officials have been eager to dispel that fear, and to make clear that they can be tough, when required.
Comments
"On hold" for Hillary, but every other Secretary of State felt it was important.
What a wuss. Obama in action.
Will Hillary say the same about the rights of Africans in Africa. Put that "on hold", too, Hillary?
Where are the human rights activists. Where are they?
Oh, they only come out to protest certain presidents, not all presidents.
This is disgusting.
Posted by: Poor example | February 20, 2009 4:06 PM
It's hard to argue with her logic. Doesn't seem that given our present situation, that we are in a position suitable to bargain anyway, now does it.
I think it's funny in a way that in China they place the priority on saving face and here in the US we got all we handle with saving our ass.
Great cultural divide.
I wish we would do better, I really do.
Posted by: Rob | February 20, 2009 4:21 PM
Clinton realizes that, as immoral as it is to relegate human rights below economic welfare, human rights will suffer even more if the global financial crisis goes isn't curtailed. Sadly, because of our enormous debt to China--huge even before our borrowing to finance our massive stimulus package--that means we're hardly in a strong bargaining position. Human rights organizations must keep up the pressure nonetheless to try to keep its importance in the priority mix, but practicality must be appreciated--I can't imagine China bowing to U.S. pressure to improve human rights and helping extract us from our dire economic situation as well. That old line about winning a battle but losing the war comes to mind.
Posted by: Richard Palzer | February 20, 2009 5:58 PM
If North Korea launches a missle I would love to see us shoot it out of the sky.
As for human rights in China they can do what they want to their citizens so long as they keep Wal mart well stocked. To balance our deficit we should give them California before it is annexed by Mexico.
Posted by: Bushwacker | February 20, 2009 6:38 PM
BushW, perhaps it's just as well you aren't (so far as we know) one of the Joint Chiefs.
I think shooting down some N Korean test missle might lead to several thousand missles being rained down on Seoul and our near by troops.
Posted by: ornery | February 20, 2009 9:09 PM
Africans In China? "
Will Hillary say the same about the rights of Africans in Africa. Put that "on hold", too, Hillary? "
What do u mean? The rights of Africans In China?
They do face different difficulties but are not officially denied any rights here in china.
Follow the issue at : http://www.AfricansInChina.com
Daniel Hakizimana
Posted by: Daniel Hakizimana | February 20, 2009 10:27 PM
I am happy that the United States is finally becoming sensible. Human rights is a retarded political issue start with. Tibetan groups are jokes and a bunch of power starved, violent mobs. Now it is Europe's turn to drop the stupid rhetoric and do something real for this world.
Posted by: Kent | February 20, 2009 10:36 PM
WHAT THE HECK DO YOU WANT HER TO SAY? CHINA OWNS US!!!
Posted by: thank a republican for selling our factories to them | February 20, 2009 11:11 PM
WHAT THE HECK DO YOU WANT HER TO SAY? CHINA OWNS US!!!
Posted by: thank a republican for selling our factories to them | February 20, 2009 11:11 PM
Life is so short. It's unacceptale that any of us would have to spend it being tortured or starved. The US should endeavor to set an excellent example and then we should shame oppressors at every turn. We are making a deal with the devil by legitimizing the unelected Chinese dictatorship.
Posted by: Hilary Smith | February 20, 2009 11:40 PM
China and human rights abuse in general are GLOBAL problems, not US problems. So they deserve a GLOBAL response. If the UN isn't up to the task, we need to build an organization that is. Something like this...
www.UnitedDemocraticNations.org
That being said I'm willing to let Clinton's careless remarks slide until I see what the administration really does.
gary
Posted by: gary | February 21, 2009 10:46 AM
Oh, they only come out to protest certain presidents, not all presidents.
This is disgusting.
Posted by: Poor example | February 20, 2009 4:06 PM
Yes we were much better off with a president who would preach to the Chinese about human rights...right before he would take money from them to finance our wars. There "is" nothing like a false pretense to bring other countries to face their own issues. If the current economic world problems don't get resolved soon....there will be human rights abused on every continent and every city. But by all means.........lets just at least say some words and feel better about it.
Posted by: bill r. | February 21, 2009 11:16 AM
[quote]
If North Korea launches a missle I would love to see us shoot it out of the sky.
Posted by: Bushwacker | February 20, 2009 6:38 PM
[/quote]
Maybe if North Korea tells us the day and time when they launch a missle, and then give us it's exact flight path, just as the US military has done for all of its "Star Wars" anti-missle tests for years, we can still miss it 80% of the time - just as we have done in all of the "Star Wars" tests over the years.
Posted by: BC | February 21, 2009 1:33 PM
Don't know if China owns us; but it sure as hell owns the Clintons and probably a large piece of the Chicago Thug-office
Posted by: emdfl | February 21, 2009 1:54 PM