Reuters : Bush and Qian to discuss Taiwan, arms and human rights

Wednesday March 21, 5:27 AM

By Deborah Charles

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - George W. Bush faces one of his biggest challenges as U.S. president on Thursday when he holds talks with China's top foreign policy official

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BUSH TO DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS

Bush was also expected to bring up the touchy issue of human rights in China, as debate heats up on the topic in Geneva at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.

The United States has criticized China's rights record, saying Beijing's performance deteriorated last year, and will sponsor a motion at the Geneva meeting to condemn it.

U.S. lawmakers, who have spoken out against China's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement, will hold a news conference on Wednesday to oppose China's bid to host the 2008 Olympics because of its poor rights record.

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http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010320/3/kp64.html

Reuters: Chinese Leader Starts Talks in Washington

By Elaine Monaghan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice Premier Qian Qichen, the first high-level Chinese visitor to meet U.S. President George W. Bush, began talks on Wednesday that are likely to focus on Beijing's objections to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

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Human rights, including Beijing's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement, will also be a key topic.

The State Department's annual human rights report said last month that the situation in China was deteriorating and Washington is seeking condemnation of China at a session of the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

A bipartisan coalition of 41 members of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday called on the International Olympic Committee to reject China's bid to host the 2008 Games because of Beijing's rights record.

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CNN: Taiwan, human rights to dominate Qian talks

WASHINGTON -- China's Vice Premier Qian Qichen arrived in Washington on Wednesday for the first high level Chinese meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.

The meeting is likely to focus on Beijing's objections to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, although China's record on human rights is also likely to be on the agenda.

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Falun Gong crackdown

Human rights, including Beijing's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement, will also be a key topic for Washington. The State Department's annual human rights report last month said the situation in China was deteriorating.

Just before Qian arrived, a bipartisan coalition of 41 members of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday called on the International Olympic Committee to reject China's bid to host the 2008 Games because of Beijing's rights record.

And an Amnesty International report released yesterday alleges China executed an average of 40 people a week through the 1990s.

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