(2009-11-16) China Detaining Dissidents Before Obama Visit

China has detained dozens of dissidents and political reform advocates ahead of US President Barack Obama's first visit to China, according to family members and human rights activists... In recent months, however, Human Rights groups have soured on the Obama administration's stance on human rights. One turning point came in February when Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, said human rights could not "interfere" with Sino-US co-operation on "the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis, and the security crisis". Meaning, uh, they own our ass.

The authorities appear concerned that these vocal critics will attempt to meet with President Obama, visiting US officials, or foreign journalists covering the visit.