Rice Visits Quake-damaged Sichuan, China

ANCHOR:
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in earthquake-ravaged Sichuan Province on Sunday, under pressure to raise human rights issues with the Chinese communist regime. But she also took time to tour some of the worst hit areas of the May 12th quake, and praised the efforts of Chinese people and NGOs to help the victims.

STORY:
After landing in Chengdu, Rice toured parts of the devastated Dujiangyan city. Ten percent of the buildings in Dujiangyan were brought down by the 7.9-magnitude quake.

[Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State]:

"It is really a sign of how the human spirit can overcome great devastation. Even if we are here among people who are rebuilding their lives we remember of course the many people who lost their lives, including the children who lost their lives. And they will always be remembered."

A large number of children were killed when their schools collapsed during the quake. And many Chinese parents are still seeking answers to why so many schools collapsed--even in areas where other buildings were virtually unharmed.

The U.S. government has spent over $3.7 million U.S. dollars to help the quake victims. But friction remains between Washington and Beijing over the Tibet issue and human rights in general. Washington has publicly criticized China's human rights record and urged China to continue talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Rice's visit is part of an Asian trip which also includes stops in Japan and South Korea.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• condoleezza
• rice
• sichuan
• earthquake
• china
• human
• rights

[jessieclance]

CONDI FOR PRESIDENT OF THE USA!

[babeebee]

Africa had been a private looting ground of the Western imperialistic Powers. The British Oligarchs still guard their loot selfishly today. Millions were murdered in their imperialist endeavours. This Chinese news reader is willing to be used as a pawn in the Neocon's propaganda drive to decieve the world. Rice must free herself from the chains of mental slavery. No one has any quarrels with teeming masses of people pf European descent.

[Neppybutt]

How many pairs of shoes did she buy from the sweatshop shoe stores??? Even acknowledging Condolesbo Rice in any fashion, further harms the credibility of the US policies. If she was there to raise human rights issues, it certainly isn't keeping us out of the Olympics because of the atrocities committed by the Chinese government!