China Blasts Human Rights Criticisms and Tibetan Protesters

Terror, teargas, and Tibet- it's been an explosive week for China, and the intensity keeps mounting.

First, we have the Chinese official responses to yesterday's State Department report that their human rights record is not quite up to par.  Foreign minister Yang Jiechi told reporters that they strongly disapproved of "such practices as clinging to Cold War mentality, drawing lines along ideology, making confrontation, practicing double standards and interfering in China's internal affairs in the name of human rights."

We can expect an upcoming Chinese report condemning the United States for its own human rights practices, but despite these disagreements, any tension caused by this report should blow over soon.  Even in Yang's press conference, he was eager to have a human rights discussion with the U.S. "on the basis of equality and mutual respect" and emphasized the close trade relations between the country.

It's a little more unlikely that the other scenario will have as neat a resolution.  Thousands of Chinese soldiers and police made headlines for teargasing about 600 monks for their protests in the Tibetan Capital, Lhasa.

This protest, which took place Monday in front of the most sacred Tibetan Buddhist temple, has been Tibet's largest demonstration since 1989.  It coincides with the 49th anniversary the Dalai Lama fled to India through the Himalayas. 

Similar protests in New Delhi, India and Kathmandu, Nepal in front of their Chinese embassies, also resulted in police interventions.  As you can see from the video footage of these two cities, police blocked many from storming the Chinese embassy, and several were arrested.

Not dismayed, another 100 exiled Tibetans in India plan to march into China's border this Thursday, so it's possible that these events could usher in many more. 

Although the treatment of Tibetan protesters appals many human rights activists and Tibetan supporters, Yang Jiechi considers the Tibetan issue one "of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."  He says the Tibetan activists would split the country with their own agenda, and that the argument is more political than ethnic or religious.

It's highly unlikely these issues will be resolved any time soon, and certainly not before the magical 8-8-08 date of the Olympic Ceremonies.  But despite the improbability of satisfying victory for either side, expect more dramatic and heated battles in the coming months.