The Obama administration says human rights are central to its foreign policy toward China, but as the Asian power's international stature has grown, America's leverage in pressing individual cases appears to have diminished. The U.S. relies on China as its main foreign creditor, and seeks its help – with mixed success - on a gamut of international issues, including

• Tibet - human rights, self-immolations in protest of Beijing's authoritarian rule
• dissident Chen Guancheng - whose case caused a diplomatic crisis between the two powers this spring, also released a statement, expressing fears for his family members back in China.
  • Chen, the blind lawyer who came to the U.S. in May after he escaped a brutal house arrest, said he feared in particular for his 32-year-old nephew, Chen Kegui, who has been charged with attempted homicide and denied independent legal counsel and access to his family. Chen Kegui, is accused of attacking locals officials with a kitchen knife after they burst into his father's house following Chen Guangcheng's escape to the U.S. embassy, which eventually led to Chen Guangcheng's flight to New York to study. "There are laws that could protect my nephew – including laws against torture – but some Chinese officials routinely flout the law with impunity," Chen Guangcheng said. "China does not lack laws, but the rule of law."
• the civil war in Syria
• the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea.
• security in the Middle East and Asia