Washington Commemoration Of Tiananmen Overshadowed By Us Need For Chinese Partnership
Washington has seen daily activities this week related to June 4, 1989, when China sent tanks and troops to crush demonstrations and shoot protesters seeking to remake the authoritarian Chinese system. There have been congressional hearings, appearances by the “Three Heroes of Tiananmen” and other activists, photo exhibits and candlelight vigils.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement Wednesday that China, as an emerging global power, “should examine openly the darker events of its past and provide a public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, both to learn and to heal.”
But none of the commemorations of Tiananmen has demanded the attention of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithners trip to China this week to secure economic cooperation from the single-biggest holder of U.S. debt.
Beijings importance to America was further underscored by a Chinese companys purchase of the unit of bankrupt General Motors Corp. that makes Hummer sport utility vehicles and by worsening tensions with North Korea, where Chinese leverage is seen as key to getting the North to return to nuclear disarmament talks.
Also Wednesday, the Obama administrations chief climate negotiator said China is critical to making any international agreement to reduce emissions blamed for global warming work.
As the United States works to secure cooperation from a powerful, economically dynamic China, it has become difficult for activists to draw attention to the Tiananmen events and to claims that China abuses its citizens rights.
Harry Wu, who spent 19 years in Chinas “laogai” labor camp system, said the Obama administrations position on China is understandable but frustrating.
The reason that events on Tiananmen are overshadowed, he said, is clear: “Because China is holding so much bonds. Because China became a major producer of the United States.”
China holds an estimated $1 trillion in U.S. government debt.
Clinton has called the U.S.-China relationship the worlds most important. In February, she angered activists and delighted China by saying during a trip to Beijing that the United States would not let its human rights concerns interfere with cooperation with Beijing on global crises.
On Wednesday, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, facing questions about Clintons comments in February, said human rights are “paramount on our list.”
But Clinton is “communicating that were not going to take a cookie-cutter approach to human rights,” Crowley said. “She is interested in making sure that we address this in a way that is going to be most effective. In some cases, that will be public. In some cases, that will be private. In some cases, that will be both.”