U.S. says China, Iran, Russia are ‘forces for instability’

The Trump administration is lashing out at China, Iran, Russia and North Korea for being “forces of instability’’ because of human rights abuses of their own citizens and others.

In its annual global human rights reports released on Friday, the State Department singled out the four countries for egregious rights violations, including restricting the freedoms of speech and assembly and allowing or committing violence against religious, ethnic and other minority groups. It said that countries that undermine the fundamental dignity of people are “morally reprehensible’’ and harm U.S. interests.

“The governments of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, for example, violate the human rights of those within their borders on a daily basis and are forces of instability as a result,’’ acting Secretary of State John Sullivan said in an introduction to the reports — one for each country and territory in the world. He said the U.S. aims to lead by example and promotes good governance, anti-corruption efforts and the rule of law.

In addition to harshly criticizing those countries by name, the reports, which covers 2017 and is the first entirely produced by the Trump administration, replaces sections on “reproductive rights’’ with one titled “coercion in population control.’’ The shift underscores the Trump administration’s anti-abortion position that has already manifested itself in funding for international health programs and has been criticized by women’s health advocates.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had added the “reproductive rights’’ section in 2012 and it had remained a part of each country’s report until this year. Beyond coercion, that section had previously called out countries that denied access to information and services for reproductive health, including contraception.

Groups like Amnesty International denounced the report for that reason and others, maintaining that the administration’s domestic policies — as well as close relationships with countries accused of abuses — had badly damaged its credibility as a leader in human rights advocacy.