The annual report, which was issued this month, cites lots of so-called facts, including over 30 fabricated cases, to depict China, where the human rights situation has been improving steadily, as a country with a very poor human rights record, according to a signed article by Xiao You.

It criticizes the report for its parallel ranking of China and Tibet, saying that Human Rights Watch shows no respect for China's state sovereignty and territorial integrity and is attempting to separate China under the pretext of human rights.

The article calls it a internationally recognized fact that since the 13th century, Tibet has been an inalienable part of China and has been effectively ruled by Chinese governments of different dynasties.

The report also attacks China for its lawful control on the Internet business for security factors, which the article says is an international practice.

According to the article, many human rights bodies in China are acting freely across the country, but the report distorts the fact, saying that the Chinese government bans "public activities by any human rights groups in China's mainland and Tibet."

The Chinese people have the final say on the status of human rights in the country, the article stresses, citing official statistics to prove that China has achieved a sustained, fast and healthy economic development, with the best human rights status in its history.

China ensures the people's basic freedom in press and publication with its Constitution, and since 1979, the country has promulgated thousands of national and regional laws and regulations on the guarantee of human rights, and a legal system for this purpose has been established, according to the article.

It points out that no country in the world can boast a perfect human right status that leaves nothing to be desired. China still has many problems concerning its human rights situation due to natural and historic factors as well as the level of development.

However, these problems have to be resolved through constant reforms and development with stability as a prerequisite, the article says, noting that China's efforts to accelerate its economic and political reforms will bring fundamental improvement to the country's human rights situation.

The article reiterates that China welcomes goodwill criticism and constructive proposals on its human rights status by foreign and international human rights organizations, based objective facts.

The Chinese people firmly oppose and resist all vicious attacks against China under the pretext of human rights and in an attempt to alter the course of China's development and interfere in the country's internal affairs, the article says.

(Xinhua 12/18/2000)