U.S. slams four nations for instability
Reports single out Iran, China, Russia, N. Korea
WASHINGTON — 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 Friday, the State Department singled out the four countries for egregious violations, including restricting the freedoms of speech and assembly and allowing or committing violence against religious, ethnic and other minority groups.
It said 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 cover 2017 and are the first entirely produced by the Trump administration, replace the section 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.
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.
The reports are critical of U.S. partners and allies like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but traditional U.S. adversaries are hit hardest. The entries for China, Iran, Russia and North Korea outline a litany of abuses blamed on their governments, which are also accused of failing to hold human rights violators accountable for their actions.