Human rights remains China's Achilles heel

OVER the last quarter century, China's economy grew at a phenomenal rate, its diplomatic influence now reaches every corner of the world and its military might is rapidly approaching the level of American military power. Nevertheless, in one area, China remains vulnerable: its human rights practices.

This Achilles heel was very much in evidence last week when an unprecedented joint statement was issued in the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council condemning China's crackdown on civil society, including the case of missing Hong Kong booksellers who reappeared in China under highly mysterious circumstances.

"We express profound concern at the relentless crackdown on civil society taking place in China, and the brazenness with which this suppression of dissenting voices has now expanded to include human rights defenders, outspoken booksellers and lawyers, increasingly with extraterritorial reach," said the statement, issued by 12 countries led by the United States. The group included Japan, Australia and nine European countries.