(New York) – United States Secretary for Homeland Security Jeh Johnson should raise human rights abuses on his upcoming visit to China, Human Rights Watch said in a letter today. Johnson is expected to visit China on April 8, 2015.
Human Rights Watch urged Johnson to follow the US “whole of government” approach to backing human rights and civil society in China, particularly in discussions with judicial or law enforcement agencies that are deeply implicated in ongoing human rights abuses.
“Secretary Johnson has the opportunity to drive home to Chinese counterparts that the US will raise Beijing’s repression at each and every opportunity,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “Making this an inescapable topic of discussion may be one way to mitigate abuses.”
The letter urges Johnson to express concern publicly about four issues, all with relevance to Homeland Security’s mandate:
- An end to all forms of arbitrary detention;
- An end to abuses in police custody;
- An end to the harsh crackdown on civil society; and
- A commitment to upholding human rights in combating terrorism.
“President Xi Jinping has publicly stressed that the party’s focus on the ‘rule of law’ in fact means that the judicial system remains a tool of party and state power,” Richardson said. “Secretary Johnson should explain why this is a significant obstacle to US-China relations – and to China’s future.”
