Since we are so enamoured with Western reports as the Gospel, here is something to chew upon.
It is from the US State Dept!
he People's Republic of China (PRC) is an authoritarian state in which, as specified in its constitution, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the paramount source of power. Party members hold almost all top government, police and military positions. Ultimate authority rests with the 24-member political bureau (Politburo) of the CCP and its 9-member standing committee. General Secretary Hu Jintao holds the three most powerful positions as CCP general secretary, president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). The party's authority rested primarily on the government's ability to maintain social stability; appeals to nationalism and patriotism; party control of personnel, media, and the security apparatus; and continued improvement in the living standards of most of the country's 1.3 billion citizens. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces.
The government's human rights record remained poor, and the government continued to commit numerous and serious abuses. There was a trend towards increased harassment, detention, and imprisonment by government and security authorities of those perceived as threatening to government authority. The government also adopted measures to control more tightly print, broadcast and electronic media, and censored online content. Protests by those seeking to redress grievances increased significantly and were suppressed, at times violently, by security forces. There were notable developments in legal reforms during the year. However, some key measures to increase the authority of the judiciary and reduce the arbitrary power of police and security forces stalled. The government adopted new religious affairs regulations expanding legal protection for some activities of registered religious groups but was criticized for failing to protect unregistered groups.
The following human rights problems were reported:
denial of the right to change the government
physical abuse resulting in deaths in custody
torture and coerced confessions of prisoners
harassment, detention, and imprisonment of those perceived as threatening to party and government authority
arbitrary arrest and detention, including nonjudicial administrative detention, reeducation-through-labor, psychiatric detention, and extended or incommunicado pretrial detention
a politically controlled judiciary and a lack of due process in certain cases, especially those involving dissidents
detention of political prisoners, including those convicted of disclosing state secrets and subversion, those convicted under the now-abolished crime of counterrevolution, and those jailed in connection with the 1989 Tiananmen demonstrations
house arrest and other nonjudicially approved surveillance and detention of dissidents
monitoring of citizens' mail, telephone and electronic communications
use of a coercive birth limitation policy, in some cases resulting in forced abortion and sterilization
increased restrictions on freedom of speech and the press; closure of newspapers and journals; banning of politically sensitive books, periodicals, and films; and jamming of some broadcast signals
restrictions on the freedom of assembly, including detention and abuse of demonstrators and petitioners
restrictions on religious freedom, control of religious groups, and harassment and detention of unregistered religious groups
restrictions on the freedom of travel, especially for politically sensitive and underground religious figures
forcible repatriation of North Koreans and inadequate protection of many refugees
severe government corruption
increased scrutiny, harassment and restrictions on independent domestic and foreign nongovernmental organization (NGO) operations
trafficking in women and children
societal discrimination against women, minorities, and persons with disabilities
cultural and religious repression of minorities in Tibetan areas and Muslim areas of Xinjiang
restriction of labor rights, including freedom of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, and worker health and safety
forced labor, including prison labor.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61605.htm
That much for China and human rights!
