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Japan

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Despite being a marvelous attraction, until China addresses its human rights issues Westerners should choose Japan as a vacation destination over China.

You see, despite maintaining "preferred trade partner" status with the US, China has an atrocious Human Rights record. This is not a historical fact either - ongoing violations of Human Rights occur daily in China, right now. Some of the issues which have been raised against China include genocidal practices in Tibet, persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong, lack of fair judicial process, controls on expression and association, and torture and ill-treatment of prisoners.

The claiming of Tibet has included actions such as mass repopulation of Tibetan geography with Chinese nationals; the jailing and torture of Tibetan nationals - including the use of rape and assault on women, including nuns, in prison; and the removal of temples and rejection of the right to practice their religion. Accusations of treatment of members of Falun Gong include "organ harvesting" - that is, selling livers and kidneys from jailed members to transplant recipients around the world.

There are few legal safeguards to ensure a fair trial in China, yet China currently accounts for around 80% of executions worldwide. Prisoners cannot call witnesses for the defence, or question witnesses against them and lawyers have been instructed that they can only enter a plea of not guilty if they get approval from the judicial administration.

China continues to use "reeducation through labor" to correct political and religious beliefs not in line with the state. Torture - from beatings to starvation and long-term solitary confinement - is common in prisons.

In enforcing their "one-child" policy, China utilizes forced contraceptive use, abortion and sterilization. Children born outside of the plan are often refused official status which means no access to education, medical facilities or other state benefits.

Japan and China both offer wonderful opportunities to see life lived in a much different manner than the way it is in the West. China delights with its rawness, Japan amazes with its modernity and both offer glimpses of glorious traditions magically maintained in the current day. Both countries offer fantastic natural sights, wonderful culinary experiences and shopping galore but for me, the cost of traveling to China is just too high.

Learn more about this author, Jacqueline O'Donnell.
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