A recent US official report on human rights maliciously distorted the human rights situation in China, a Chinese human rights specialist said yesterday.

　　In response to the"Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2002-2003" released by the US Department of State, Dong Yunhu, deputy head and secretary-general of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, published an article entitled "For the Purpose of Advancing Human Rights or Seeking Confrontation?"

　　Dong said the US report has made groundless accusations against China, exposing the US attempt to use human rights to smear China.

　　The report is submitted to the Congress in compliance with the Fiscal Year 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act. The so-called human rights report included China for grave human rights abuses and attempted to interfere with China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

　　China is at its best period of time in history, featuring stable politics, steady economic development and social progress, great national unity, while improvements are impressive in people's lives and human rights, and Chinese people have been enjoying unprecedented freedom, democratic and human rights, which are hard facts that cannot be denied, said Dong.

　　"It is quite ridiculous that the US government paid no attention to the facts in China, wantonly distorting and decrying human rights status in China and China's policies on human rights," Dong said.

　　One main criticism of the report was that China's "authoritarian govern-ment continues to suppress political, religious, and social groups as well as individuals perceived to be a threat to regime power or national stability."

　　The so-called "efforts" made by the US in supporting human rights and democracy in China are cases of the US pressuring China to release criminals who have been convicted of sabotaging China's national security.

　　China is ruled by law, and a person will by no way be regarded as breaking law for his thoughts, religious beliefs or opinions, and there are absolutely no "political prisoners," or prisoners of conscience, said Dong.