David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Tuesday 02 June, 2009

Tian'anmen

4th June will mark the twentieth anniversary of the tragic events that took place in Tiananmen Square and across China in 1989. Many of us will remember clearly the images of that time as we mark the anniversary. And some of those detained then remain in prison now.
 
Promoting respect for human rights is a key part of our foreign policy. China has made big improvements in economic and social rights since 1989. But progress on civil and political rights has been far slower. Respect for human rights helps create stability and growth. And China's stability and growth is in our own interests.

So promoting human rights remains a key part of our policy towards China - this year and every year.

Posted at 12:25 02 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[6]

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Dear David, in my opinion there is one key sentence in your interesting report:Promoting respect for human rights is a key part of our foreign policy. I do full agree to you that there are big improvements in China since Tian'men in 1989.Both, in economic as in social rights.But on the other side I don't see much progress on civil and political rights at all.Maybe things are really getting better-but much slower as we all do hope.That's why we all should do our best by promoting human rights.In China but also in other countries,e.g.Burma-and this not only via Global Conversations but also at the working-place,with friends or family. Best wishes, Ingo-Steven Wais

Posted by Ingo-Steven Wais on June 03, 2009 at 11:52 AM BST #

Isn't it about time the British Government stopped mouthing platitudes about China's human rights record? How would it be if they actually grew a backbone and did something? How about an embargo on all Chinese imports into the UK or, better still, the EU until the Chinese withdraw from Tibet where they have been in illegal occupation for more than 50 years? Oddly, I think the well-being of an entire nation is slightly more important that British trade agreements. What do you think, Mr M?

Posted by Philippa Jones on June 03, 2009 at 04:47 PM BST #

Thanks Philippa's suggestion, you are such a genius! Firstly, Embargo is an extremely brilliant solution to solve bilateral issues and if it failed, a nuclear war might help. What do you think, Mr M?! Secondly, how to define illegal occupation? British invaded Ireland in 12 century. Will the UK withdraw from North Ireland that has been "illegally" occupied for more than 800 years?

Posted by Kevin Johnson on June 04, 2009 at 05:11 PM BST #

Thank you for that commitment. Watching Kate Adie last night was a grim reminder of how the apparatus of repression continues to guarantee power to a brutal unelected elite. I was sad to remember also how wrong I was twenty years ago when I told the very distressed Chinese doctor who was giving me acupuncture that the one consolation in all that had happened was that a government that treated its own people with such brutality and contempt could not hope to remain unchallenged indefinitely. But there's a need for something a bit bolder to back up your fine words. At the very least can we ever expect an adequate comment from you about why we abandoned our support for Tibetan sovereignty?

Posted by OwenE2 on June 04, 2009 at 06:49 PM BST #

Mr. Secretary, Do you believe the Chinese Communist Party can survive an ever more affluent China? A burgeoning middle class, and the new, ultra-rich, multi-national business class, will surely seek a more moderate form of government in the future. What are your thoughts? In the not-too-distant future, when China is the world's largest economy, democratic nations will find it difficult to deal with the current government, or worse yet, a more nationalistic version of it. Best Regards, Jim Miller

Posted by James P. Miller on June 07, 2009 at 03:15 AM BST #

I am writing this from China, where the BBC and CNN remain blocked off the air after their coverage of Thursday's anniversary. I also went to the square to see what things were like there on the anniversary and was I guess unsurprised to see a very heavy and menacing security presence as well as a shocking absence of hawkers - usually a ubiquitous sight at any Chinese tourist attraction. It felt oddly significant.

Posted by RP on June 07, 2009 at 12:29 PM BST #

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