By Indian Express, Jul 12 2012
China's state-run media hit back
at US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today for comments she made calling
for greater democracy in Asia, describing her as a 'preacher for human rights'.
The editorial in the ruling
Communist Party's People's Daily was in response to comments Clinton made while
in Mongolia this week in which she urged Asian nations to embrace democracy.
The editorial in the People's
Daily asked: "Who gave America the right to arrogantly criticise the
status of democracy in Asia?".
It then described Clinton, who is
due to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at a regional security forum
in Cambodia today, as a "preacher for human rights".
The editorial also said the
countries that had followed the US political model in Asia were 'lagging'
behind other countries.
"America is not the judge on
human rights for the world and Asia. There is not a generic system that fits
all countries," it said, adding the region was faring better economically
than the West.
"Asian countries,
particularly East Asian countries, successfully withstood the financial crisis
that was caused by the Western countries, and achieved rapid economic
growth," it said.
"(Asian countries) can solve
their own problems and can find a path different from the West to suit their
national characteristics".
In a speech in Mongolia, which
borders China, on Tuesday, Clinton said she did not agree with arguments in
some Asian countries that democracy was not suited to the region.
"This is the right time to
talk about democracy in Asia, as many countries in this region grapple with the
question of which model of governance best suits their society and circumstances,"
she said.
"It is true that clamping
down on poitical expression or maintaining a tight grip on what people read, or
say or see can create the illusion of security. But illusions fade, because
people's yearnings for liberty do not."
Clinton did not name China, but
the People's Daily editorial said the comments were clearly aimed at Beijing's
rulers.
Courtesy: Indian Express
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