 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
US: We want Tibet situation to improve
Washington (AFP) April 18, 2008 The United States on Friday declined to echo ally Japan's warning to China that Tibet's unrest was now an international issue, but said Washington wants conditions there to improve. "I don't think we try to characterize it as a national issue or an international issue. I don't think that's the point of it," White House spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters. "The point of it is that there are lots of places in the world where we have an interest in the human rights of the citizens who live there, and we express our interest and our concern in all of those places. And we want to see the conditions improve," said Fratto. His comments came after Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda bluntly told China that Tibet had become an international issue, contradicting Beijing's official line, and hinted it could hit the Olympics. Fukuda made the remarks to visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who was paving the way for President Hu Jintao's much-anticipated trip to Tokyo next month. "Prime Minister Fukuda stated that there was a need to face up to the reality that the matter has become an international issue and that it should not affect the Olympics," a foreign ministry statement said. "It is desired that the Chinese side does all it can to solve the matter," it quoted Fukuda as saying. China has repeatedly countered criticism of its crackdown in the Himalayan region by saying its handling of protests last month was strictly an internal matter. Exiled Tibetan leaders say China's clampdown left more than 150 dead, while Beijing says "rioters" killed 20. The incident has cast a shadow on China's hosting of the Beijing Olympics in August, with protests marring international legs of the ceremonial torch relay. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links China News from SinoDaily.com
Tibet an 'international issue,' Japan PM tells China
Tokyo (AFP) April 18, 2008Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda bluntly told China Friday that Tibetan unrest had become an international issue, contradicting Beijing's official line, and hinted it could hit the Olympics. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
