by China’s president Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington has drawn hundreds of human rights activists to the capital to protest. The advocates for China’s minorities such as Uighurs, Tibetans and imprisoned democracy campaigners, have been pressing Obama to address the issue with Hu both privately and publicly, and he appears to be doing so.“History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful and the world is more just when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all people are upheld, including the universal rights of every human being,” he said during a welcoming ceremony outside the White House.Obama has faced much criticism over the course of his time in office. The U.S. Media and various lawmakers feel that he appears too reticent about subjugation in countries like China, Egypt and Russia. Some argue that he, as the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is obligated to speak out against the imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo, the 2010 Nobel Peace honoree.Last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted that Beijing release Liu and “the many other political prisoners in China, including those under house arrest and those enduring enforced disappearances.”
