So Gordon Brown is in China. Well, there are two things that must be top of his agenda if he is serious about justice, the poor, the oppressed, Burma and Africa. These are China's domestic human rights record, and China's foreign policy. Internally, while China has changed massively since the days of Mao, and there is a much greater degree of personal freedom, anyone who shows political dissent or practices their religion outside the narrow restrictions of the State-approved churches and mosques is subjected to beatings, torture, harassment, jail and sometimes death. Think of Falun Gong. Think of the house church pastors who are regularly detained. Think of Tibet. Think of the internet dissidents.
In foreign policy China is the key to change in Burma, North Korea, Sudan and Zimbabwe ... and while it has made some small steps to be a little more helpful, China remains the obstacle to removing these brutal regimes. So Gordon, you've said you care about Africa. You've written about how much you love Aung San Suu Kyi. You've talked about social justice. Now, in this year when China hosts the Olympics and you are visiting - don't leave them off the agenda. Make them the conversation in Beijing.
Recent Comments