Editorial: China and political freedom

Saturday, April 22, 2006 | 7:28 a.m.

Not much progress was made in bridging the many differences between China and the United States during Chinese President Hu Jintao's meeting with President Bush in Washington this week. The two superpowers were unable to come to an agreement on a number of key issues - notably the growing trade imbalance that favors China and human rights abuses that continue there.

Ever since President Richard Nixon started the process of normalizing relations with China, succeeding administrations have tried to work with the communist government. While China is more open to the West than it once was, the fact remains that it is still a totalitarian regime that routinely imprisons political dissenters.

Meanwhile, China definitely is growing as an economic power, and there are increasing concerns that China's military could create more instability in Asia.

American companies and politicians have said for years that encouraging China to grow economically, along with fostering better U.S.-China relations, should create the kinds of conditions that would ultimately lead to greater political freedom in China. Although there is more freedom today than during Mao's reign, the reality is that China still is a totalitarian regime.

Hu, during his visit here, didn't say anything that would lead us to believe that China's government is going to change its ways anytime soon. That is a tragedy.