China and human rights

In the 830 class, we mentioned the news item China's President Hu visiting the US. I nodded forward to the topic of foreign policy, and discussed briefly why we should be invading Iraq to liberate it while welcoming President Hu: what is the principle that justifies the differential treatment?

In the discussion, I claimed China bills the family of the executed for the bullet. More disturbing are recent claims that China appears to harvest the organs of the condemned

From CNN International (via AP):

"A reported close relationship between transplant units and the authorities regulating executions and the availability of organs is unethical," said Stephen Wigmore, chairman of the group's ethics committee.

"The alleged sale of organs derived from executed prisoners for financial gain is a lamentable practice," he said.

Human rights groups have long claimed many of China's transplant organs come from executed prisoners who may not have given their permission. China routinely denies the claims.

Last month China's Health Ministry banned sales of human organs in an apparent attempt to clean up the country's laxly regulated transplant business. The new rules, which take effect July 1, also state that donors must give written permission for their organs to be transplanted.