Bush rebukes China on human rights

The US president has hit out at China's human rights record on the eve of the Olympic games.

George Bush issued a blunt rebuke of China's repression of dissidents and called on Beijing to grant its people greater freedom.

Speaking in the Thai capital, Bangkok, on Thursday just hours before heading to Beijing to attend the Olympics opening ceremony, Bush said "America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists".

"We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly, and labour rights not to antagonise China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential.

"And we press for openness and justice not to impose our beliefs, but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs."

Bush praised China's market reforms but said that he hoped it would also embrace freedom.

The US leader arrived in Thailand from South Korea on Thursday as part of a three-nation Asian tour in what is expected to be his last visit to the region as president.