The Chinese government blasted U.S. legislators Thursday for calling on the communist nation to end human rights abuses, according to CNN.
The criticism came in response to a resolution the U.S. House of Representatives passed Wednesday by vote of 419-1. It asks China to end its support for Sudan and Myanmar, nations that have been widely criticized for human rights violations.
The United States "should curb the `odious conduct` of a handful of anti-China lawmakers," said Liu Jianchao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, according to China`s state-run Xinhua news agency.
The resolution was called blasphemous to the Olympic spirit by Liu, Xinhua reported, who also called it a malicious attempt to politicize the games.
In their wide-ranging 12-point resolution, U.S. lawmakers call on the Chinese government to end human rights abuses of its Tibetan and Uighur minorities, begin negotiations with the Dalai Lama over the future of Tibet, and end support for the governments of Sudan and Myanmar.
The resolution also calls on U.S. President George W. Bush to make a strong public statement on China`s human rights situation before leaving for Beijing for the opening of the games on August 8. It urges him to make another statement on the issue once he gets there.
Liu advised U.S. lawmakers to change their course to avoid further harming their images, Xinhua reported.
Beijing has also come under criticism by a senior U.S. lawmaker who said China`s government has been ordering foreign-owned hotels there to install government software and hardware that would let authorities spy on guests` Internet activities during the Beijing Olympics.
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, released a translated document Wednesday from China`s Public Security Bureau that he said orders hotels to use the monitoring programs.
CNN was not able to independently verify the original document, and calls to the Chinese Embassy in Washington went unanswered. CNN will continue to try to reach Beijing for a response to Brownback`s allegations.
