Switzerland isn't the only country. Even USA is siding China now. When 11 embassies signed on to a joint letter criticizing China over “credible claims” that lawyers and human rights activists have been tortured while in detention, there were two notable abstentions. One was the 28-nation European Union, although some E.U. members signed on to the letter. The other was the United States.
The State Department’s Human Rights Report, released this month, accused China of a slew of human rights abuses, including: “arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life, executions without due process, illegal detentions at unofficial holding facilities known as ‘black jails,’ torture and coerced confessions of prisoners, and detention and harassment of journalists, lawyers, writers, bloggers, dissidents, petitioners, and others whose actions the authorities deemed unacceptable.”
Nevertheless,
the fact that Tillerson did not hold a news briefing to launch that report, as predecessors in his job have done, also left activists and politicians wondering whether the United States might be wavering.“For 1st time in a long time @StateDept #humanrights report will not be presented by Secretary of State,” tweeted Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), a Republican member of the Foreign Relations Committee. “I hope they reconsider.”
From:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/03/22/eleven-countries-signed-a-letter-slamming-china-for-torturing-lawyers-the-u-s-did-not/?utm_term=.1edda24305c6______________________________________________________________
US Declines To Join Letter Criticizing China On Human RightsWASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has declined to join other countries in criticizing China about allegations of torture against human rights lawyers.
The U.K., Germany, Canada and eight others signed a letter raising concerns about lawyers and rights activists detained incommunicado for long periods. The letter urges China to investigate torture claims against lawyer Xie Yang and others.
The U.S. abstention comes as activists raise growing concerns that the Trump administration is de-emphasizing human rights in diplomacy. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson struck a conciliatory tone with China during a visit last week.
The State Department won’t say why the U.S. didn’t sign, who made the decision and whether the White House was involved. The State Department says the U.S. raises “serious” human rights concerns as part of “regular discussions” with China.
From:
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/03/22/us-declines-to-join-letter-criticizing-china-on-human-rights/