For a while there I thought the United States was preparing itself for a lecture from the Chinese about the atrocious disregard for human rights shown at Guantanamo Bay. “Discussions,” said the official statement, “will focus on human rights developments, including the recent negative trend of forced disappearances, extralegal detentions, and arrests and convictions, as well as rule of law, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, labor rights, minority rights and other human rights issues of concern.” It certainly seemed to fit in with the latest Wikileaks disclosures – see The bureaucracy of Gitmo today on the main Crikey site.

But no. These annual talks were to have no mea culpa from a United States official. With perfectly straight faces the Americans were in Beijing to reprimand the Chinese. They must have no shame.