US President Barack Obama, in his first presidential trip to China, highlighted the importance of the protection of fundamental human rights. Speaking at a joint appearance with Chinese President Hu Jintao in the Great Hall of the People overlooking Tiananmen Square, he emphasized the universal nature of the “freedoms of expression and worship, of access of information and political participation”. Accordingly, these rights “should be available to all peoples, to all ethnic and religious minorities”. This reiterates the call Obama made upon recent receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. It seems like Obama has also responded to Human Right Watch’s call for him to raise human rights concerns in China publicly. This request was articulated in a letter sent to him before his visit to China.

“China”, the BBC notes, “is an authoritarian country in which there are no elections for the country’s national leaders”. There is still heavy censorship of mass media, and dissidents are oftentimes jailed. Tibet also remains an issue of great concern, especially with regards to the execution of Tibetans alleged to have been involved in the March 2008 protests and of Uighurs in the July 2009 protests. The official Chinese news coverage of Obama’s address focused on his statement that the US accepts Tibet as part of China, neglecting to mention his push for better human rights protection. Obama’s earlier meeting with students in Shanghai also seemed very orchestrated and received limited media coverage.

It is hoped that Obama’s address will lead to more concrete joint action, notably in the form of a human rights dialogue between the two countries planned for early next year.