China issued what it called a human rights action plan on Monday, trying to anticipate criticism of its human rights record as the anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on the Tiananmen student demonstrations nears.
Beijing had announced late last year it would present such a document. But its publication now comes just two days ahead of the anniversary of the death of Hu Yaobang, a former reformist leader whose demise in 1989 triggered the student protests ultimately quelled by soldiers with guns and tanks on June 4.
As this year features a series of such sensitive anniversaries, propaganda institutions have taken the initiative since late last year by launching a number of blanket campaigns to highlight the government's achievements and cover dissenting voices with the Communist Party's view of things.