The Korea Herald

피터빈트

China hits back at U.S. in human rights report

By 김연세

Published : Feb. 28, 2014 - 20:54

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BEIJING (AFP) -- China on Friday issued a report on human rights in the US, denouncing it for foreign drone strikes, state-sponsored spying and “rampant” gun crime after Washington criticized its rights record.

Beijing said the U.S. "concealed and avoided mentioning its own human rights problems,” such as a government-run intelligence program known as PRISM which it said "seriously infringes on human rights.”

The document came after the State Department issued its annual global human rights report Thursday.

China regularly produces a statement on the U.S. in response. It does not release rights reports aimed at other countries.

The report, released by China's State Council, or cabinet, singled out the U.S. for criticism for drone strikes in countries such as Pakistan, which it said have caused "heavy civilian casualties.”

It also said the US suffers from "rampant gun violence,” while its agricultural sector employs a "large amount of child laborers.”

Washington’s report released on Thursday praised China for some successes in human rights, such as the abolition of some labor camps and a change to the one-child policy.

But it added that "repression and coercion, particularly against organizations and individuals involved in civil and political rights advocacy... were routine.”