Christopher Hope
The Telegraph
December 2, 2013
PM avoids public clash over human rights during first day of Fa East trip despite British journalist being barred from a press conference
David Cameron avoided a public clash with China over its human rights record during the first day of his trip to the Far East on Monday, despite a British journalist being barred from a press conference after apparently upsetting the country’s rulers.
In contrast to his recent trip to Sri Lanka, where Mr Cameron publicly criticised the regime there for human rights abuses, the Prime Minister was silent on the issues of Tibet or China’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo.
The contentious subject now threatens to dog the trip, on which he is accompanied by a large business delegation hoping to win contracts for the UK.
Robert Hutton, from Bloomberg News, was told he could not attend Mr Cameron’s press conference with Li Keqiang, the Chinese premier.
Bloomberg has been blocked in China after its reporters were understood to have carried out an investigation into the finances of President Xi Jinping.
