04-02-08

保爾森對中國官員表達對西藏關注 (Paulson Expresses Concern to Chinese Officials About Tibet)

美國財政部長保爾森說， 他對中國領導人表達了對最近西藏暴力情況的關注。保爾森星期三在北京說，他呼籲中國官員通過對話尋求和平解決西藏的動蕩。

美國財長在和中國國家主席胡錦濤以及外交部長楊潔篪會晤後發表上述看法。保爾森財長沒有說明，與胡錦濤和楊潔篪的會談是否涉及到西藏問題。他只說他與“有關人員”討論了西藏問題。

保爾森是自中國當局上個月開始鎮壓西藏以及其他地方爆發的暴力抗議活動之後訪問中國的最高級別美國官員。

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says he has expressed concern to Chinese officials about recent violence in Tibet. Paulson said Wednesday in Beijing that he appealed to the Chinese officials to seek a peaceful resolution of the unrest in Tibet through dialogue.

The U.S. treasury secretary was speaking after talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Paulson did not say if those meetings covered the Tibet issue. He said only that he discussed Tibet with the "appropriate people."

Paulson is the most senior U.S. official to visit China since Chinese authorities began cracking down on violent protests that erupted in Tibet and other parts of China last month.

中國西部維族穆斯林抗議 (Ethnic Muslims Protest in Western China)

中國穆斯林人口占多數的新疆維吾爾自治區的有關當局證實，3月底發生了抗議活動。媒體最初報導說，抗議發生在和田地區，持續了兩天。維族穆斯林要求有關當局撤銷一項可能禁止佩戴傳統頭巾的禁令。他們還要求結束對維吾爾族人的酷刑，並釋放所有政治犯。

但是，當局針對這個抗議活動指責試圖在新疆建立獨立伊斯蘭國家的“分離主義分子”。北京聲稱伊斯蘭恐怖分子在新疆地區活動，並提到上個月一名穆斯林婦女試圖劫持從新疆起飛的一架中國客機。媒體還報導說，在一個富有的維族玉石商人和慈善家在警方囚禁期間死亡後，發生了抗議活動。

Authorities in China's Muslim-dominated western region of Xinjiang have confirmed protests took place there late March. Media reports initially said the protests occurred over two days in Khotan prefecture. Muslim Uighurs were demanding authorities scrap a possible ban on wearing traditional head scarves. They also called for an end to the torture of ethnic Uighurs and the release of all political prisoners.

But authorities blame the demonstrations on "splittist" elements who are trying to establish a separate Islamic nation in Xinjiang. Beijing says Islamic terrorists are operating in the region, citing last month's attempted hijacking of a Chinese passenger plane from Xinjiang by a Muslim woman. Media reports also say the protests began after the death in police custody of a wealthy Uighur jade trader and philanthropist.