The US opposes China’s detention of dissidents and other activists, US President George W. Bush will say today in a pointed message on human rights on the eve of the Beijing Olympics.
According to an advance copy of the speech he will give in Thailand before going to China for the opening ceremony of the Games, Bush insisted that the criticisms were not intended to “antagonize” the Beijing leadership.
But in a message that also expressed optimism about the future of the world’s most populous nation, Bush said he had repeatedly underlined the US’ “deep concerns over religious freedom and human rights” in China.
“America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists,” Bush said in the prepared remarks.
“We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly and labor rights not to antagonize China’s leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential,” he said.
In South Korea yesterday, Bush defended his decision to attend the Games — he said he would cheer on US athletes as well as pay his respects to China — and in his speech today will say he is “optimistic” about the future.
“Young people who grow up with the freedom to trade goods will ultimately demand the freedom to trade ideas, especially on an unrestricted Internet,” he said in the advance remarks.
“Change in China will arrive on its own terms and in keeping with its own history and traditions. Yet change will arrive,” Bush said.
Bush offered North Korea hope yesterday that it could share in South Korea’s economic prosperity while warning that it first must take concrete steps to live up to a promise to end its nuclear weapons program.
Bush made clear Pyongyang must continue to live up to the step-by-step denuclearization process of a framework agreement reached in six-party talks involving both Koreas, the US, Japan, China and Russia.
But while he spoke of a future in which North Korea is no longer part of the “axis of evil” he first outlined in 2002, Bush said much work remains, including improvement of Pyongyang’s human rights record.
Addressing a news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Bush also advised China that its pre-Olympics crackdown on dissent was “a mistake.”
Journalists covering the games have objected to restrictions on Internet sites, worried about possible censorship.
“You should not fear religious people in your societies,” said Bush, who was to fly later to Thailand before heading to Beijing.
“As a matter of fact, religious people will make your society a better place. You ought to welcome people being able to express their minds. To the extent that people aren’t able to do that, people aren’t able to worship freely is — you know — I think is a mistake.”
North Korea expects Bush to remove it from the US list of terror-sponsoring countries as promised when the North blew up its nuclear reactor cooling tower in June.
But Bush said North Korea must first agree to international terms for verifying its dismantlement efforts.
Nevertheless, “the two presidents made it clear that they are committed to helping North Korea integrate into the international community and thereby partake in the peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,” said a joint statement issued by the presidents.
Bush also visited US troops at the Yongsan base in Seoul, lucrative real estate that Washington is handing back to South Korea as part of global base closures and armed forces realignment.
He thanked the troops and their families for the sacrifices they made in the war on terrorism.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old