Supporters of the Chinese Democratic Party and other pro-democracy activists are imprisoned solely because of their political views. Widespread arrests of the Falun Gong and other Qi Gong or religious groups continue, including Evangelical Protestant and Roman Catholics who worship outside official churches. Labour activists are regularly arrested and detained. People have been arrested for using the Internet to spread information about human rights. The Chinese government continues to make rhetorical statements about the importance it attaches to the protection of human rights and its willingness to commit to international cooperation in that area.
Reality is quite different.
It is high time China gave some indication that it means what it says. China has not yet ratified two key international human rights treaties, the two International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Ratification and subsequent compliance with these documents would help safeguard against repression and human rights abuses in China. There has been some indication that the government is preparing to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, but that ratification would be accompanied by a significant reservation to article 8, which protects important labour rights. There is not yet any sign of plans to ratify the other Covenant.