Obama: All nations must respect human rights, including religious freedoms

Looking forward to his visit to Beijing, Obama said in Tokyo on 14 November the U.S. does not want to contain China, but also declared that he would not ignore America's "fundamental values...for human rights and human dignity." He also cautioned that all nations must respect human rights, including religious freedoms.

"I intend to make clear that the United States is a Pacific nation, and we will be deepening our engagement in this part of the world," the president said. "We have to understand that the future of the United States and Asia is inextricably linked."

America's relationships with Tokyo and Beijing were warranting special attention in Obama's remarks. Hoping to balance the need to stress values such as human rights with worries about overly irritating China, Obama planned to mention "our commitment to the rights and freedoms that we believe all people should have" without bringing up Tibet, said adviser Rhodes.

Tibetans say they want some form of autonomy for whole Tibet to freely practice their culture and religion. China claims Tibet has been part of its territory for four centuries with ignoring thousand years of political, religious and historical relationship. Obama has been criticized in some quarters for not standing up more openly to the Chinese government on human rights, particularly concerning Tibet.

"So the United States does not seek to contain China, nor does a deeper relationship with China mean a weakening of our bilateral alliances," the president said. "On the contrary, the rise of a strong, prosperous China can be a source of strength for the community of nations."

Obama offered an implicit rebuke to China's authoritarian government -- its censorship of the Internet and preference for one-party rule. A universal human desire, he said, is "the freedom to speak your mind and choose your leaders; the ability to access information and worship how you please."