Expert: Chen Case Likely Raises 'Tense' Human Rights Issue in US-China Talks
The week-long saga regarding the escape of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has become one of the world's leading news stories as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits the country this week to attend the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Asia Society Senior Fellow Jamie Metzl told CBS News (see video above) the Chen case will likely introduce the issue of human rights into meetings between the U.S.'s Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and China's Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo.
“[Human rights] is not [the U.S.’s] only issue with China but it is an issue with China and of course it will be raised — and that will be very tense,” Metzl said. “What the Americans are saying to the Chinese is that we believe that you should do a better job of respecting the rights of your citizens because it’s in your interest and China’s government is having a big tussle now about this issue of reform and empowerment and they really don’t know where they’re heading.”