Human rights conditions deteriorating in China: WH

National Security Advisor Susan Rice has met Chinese advocates to "specifically" discuss the deteriorating rights situation and religious freedom in China and the ways the US can encourage improvements, the White House said today.
"The discussion (yesterday) focused on concerns regarding the deterioration of conditions inside China for both human rights generally and religious freedom specifically, as well as the participants' recommendations regarding ways the US can constructively encourage improvements in the situation," said Ned Price, spokesman of the National Security Council.
During the discussion, participants lamented the reported removal of crosses from churches, demolition of houses of worship, and restrictions on the observance of Ramazan and other Muslim practices, as well as the continued crackdown on rights lawyers and the importance of preserving space for civil society, he said.

"Rice reiterated the US commitment to promoting human rights globally and reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting the protection of human rights, including religious freedom, and other universal rights in China," Price said.
Rice affirmed the US view that improving human rights conditions is in China's long-term interest and will continue to feature in the US-China dialogue, the spokesman said.