China slams US for interfering in the country’s internal affairs

In a report released Sunday, China's State Council Information Office hits out at the US government for practicing double standards on human rights and interfering with other countries' internal affairs while ignoring its own deep-rooted human rights issues.

The report was released in response to the 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by the US Department of State published on April 8, 2011.

The report mentions a negative trend in key areas of the country's human rights record continued, as the government took additional steps to rein in civil society, particularly organizations and individuals involved in rights advocacy and public interest issues, and increased attempts to limit freedom of speech and to control the press, the Internet, and Internet access.

It also states that tight restrictions on travel, assemble and religion practice have been imposed by the Chinese government on individuals or groups that are regarded as politically sensitive by the government.

Criticizing the report, China retorted the U.S. reports are full of distortions and accusations of the human rights situation in more than 190 countries and regions including China. However, the United States turned a blind eye to its own terrible human rights situation and seldom mentioned it.

Excerpts published in the Xinhua news agency mentions that there is severe violation of citizens' civil and political rights in the US with minority groups facing discrimination in their employment and profession. Besides this, the incidence of violent crimes in the country is also very high - one out of every five people is a victim of a crime in the United States every year.