human rights

This time of year usually brings much communication between China and the US, and this year it involved human rights discussion. The government's human rights record remained poor and worsened in some areas. During the year the government increased its severe cultural and religious repression of ethnic minorities in Tibetan areas and the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, increased detention and harassment of dissidents and petitioners, and maintained tight controls on freedom of speech and the Internet. China then delivered a reply to the report of the US, and it included: Widespread violent crimes in the United States pose serious threats to its people's lives, property and personal security. Americans live shorter lives than citizens of almost every other developed country, ranking 42nd in terms of life expectancy. Drugs, suicide and other social problems prevail in the US. Many young Americans have personality disorders. Racial discrimination in the judicial system is appalling. Tough words from both sides. But this yearly exchange of human rights reports appears to have very little practical impact on US-China relations.