U.S Embassy official... "We urge China to cease such arrests and detentions and take steps to release political prisoners already detained or serving sentences."

"It is time for the civilised world to wake up to what is really happening in the hidden China.." British member of parliament, Edward McMillan-Scott stated ahead of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit to China this week.

Despite strong calls from within the U.S Embassy and from British parliamentarians about ending human rights abuses in China it appears that both the British and American representatives failed to address human rights issues with Chinese counterparts.

U.S Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on 16th January, it was reported that the talks were to put pressure on China over human rights issues and that Negroponte would raise the case of Hu Jia, and other peaceful human rights activists, including lawyers who have recently been arrested or harassed. Despite the suggested agenda, it appears little was said on these matters.

A U.S embassy spokeswoman would only say; "some aspects of the human rights situation in China," were discussed and that Negroponte "didn't get into specific cases". Despite embassy comments ahead of the meeting that Hu Jia's arrest "... appears to be part of an escalating trend to target attorneys, journalists and other individuals who advocate for the rights of their fellow citizens," ..."We urge China to cease such arrests and detentions and take steps to release political prisoners already detained or serving sentences."

U.S - China talks appear to have been dominated by trade and economic issues and mutual disapproval of Taiwan's aims to hold a referendum to regain a chair at the United Nations. As these talks were held behind close doors we may never know whether these issues were in fact actually raised. It seems that the flavour of the UK- China meeting was also centered on trade to the exclusion of human rights discussion.

Prime Minister Brown was provided with an Amnesty International briefing ahead of his meetings in China. The issues raised do not appear to have been added to the agenda focused on increasing China - UK trade by USD$20 million.

Whilst it is quite promising to see that United States officials and British politicians and press are publicly raising issues of human rights abuse in China, and making firm calls for the release of prisoners of conscience, much greater pressure is needed to ensure that action is taken. As issues will be not be reported by the Chinese Government or allowed to be reported in the Chinese media then there is a great need for foreign government's and their representatives to raise these issues when the opportunities, such as these talks, arise. But as China is the fastest growing export market for the UK and U.S and holds an estimated 900 billion dollars in US bonds, it seems unlikely that serious pressure will mount on issues of human rights.

In May 2007, John Negroponte stated in his testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs: “We coordinate with others in the international community who share our concerns about human rights in China. Our message is clear: China will not be considered a leader in the international system until it develops a more open, transparent, and free society, unleashing the innovation and creativity of its own people”. These statements are quite noteworthy and will hopefully be the start of real action to end injustice, rather than just mere rhetoric - time will tell.

Read a BBC summary of diplomatic talks in China in recent history.