US Secretary of State Colin Powell is prepared to press Beijing on human rights and raise concerns China is not doing enough to stem proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the White House said Friday.
“It’s important for the United States to continue to press China, as Secretary Powell and as the president will continue to do,” said Ari Fleischer, spokesman for US President George W. Bush.
“The United States expects China to live up to its nonproliferation commitments, and we will continue to press China to adhere to those policies,” said Fleischer, who described Beijing’s record on the matter as “mixed.”
Powell on Saturday becomes the most senior Bush administration official to visit Beijing, and US concerns over the proliferation of Chinese military technology will be high on the agenda.
“The administration firmly opposes all Chinese transfers of missiles and weapons of mass destruction-related technology to other countries,” the spokesman said, adding that the issue of human rights posed “particular challenges” to Sino-US ties
“Our relations with China represent some serious opportunities, particularly on the trade front. (They) also represents particular challenges involving human rights,” he said.
