This week, Britain rolls out the red carpet for Jiang Zemin, President of China. He arrives on these shores in the wake of a major crackdown on human rights in China - a crackdown which began shortly after Tony Blair visited China in October 1998.

Whilst the world watched Nato bomb Serbia and the people of East Timor vote for independence, China arrested and sentenced activists for the outlawed Democracy Party, executed freedom fighters in East Turkestan and detained thousands of members of the Falun Gong religious sect - all so that Beijing could celebrate the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China peacefully (although the public were banned from witnessing the parades in Tiananmen Square).

The Dalai Lama: Spiritual leader in exile

But nowhere has Chinese oppression been so sustained and ruthless as in Tibet, which was invaded in 1950, soon after the communists seized power.

It is estimated that 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a result of the occupation. Last week that number was swelled by the death of Tashi Tsering, a 29 year old from Lhasa, who died from his injuries after being arrested for attempting to raise the Tibetan flag outside the Potala Palace.

In the last 12 months, China has tightened its grip on Tibet, arresting more monks and nuns, launching an atheism campaign, severing contact with the Tibetan government-in-exile and parading its choice of Panchen Lama in the Tibetan capital, whilst the child was chosen by the Dalai Lama's remains in custody.

Despite the appalling risks, peaceful pro-independence demonstrations in Tibet continue.

The British Government's policy towards China, a policy of dialogue and "quiet diplomacy" on human rights, has failed to prevent this crackdown.

In October 1998, during his China visit, Tony Blair quietly and diplomatically raised with Chinese leaders the detention of Xu Wenli, a democracy activist. Xu was duly released, but within weeks had been re-arrested and sentenced to 13 years in jail.

The "limited progress" that the government claims has been made through its bilateral human rights dialogue does not bear close examination.

China may have signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but its state media immediately said: "It is not that China's stance or policies on the issue of human rights have changed."

President Jiang Zemin: First Chinese head of state to visit Britain

And it will be a long time before it is possible to say that the covenant will make any difference to the lives of ordinary Tibetans and Chinese people.

Recent events certainly show that China has not justified the faith of Western governments that a will to change exists.

Of all issues, Jiang Zemin is most sensitive about those which threaten the integrity of the 'motherland' - Tibet, Taiwan and East Turkestan.

China is not above bullying those countries who criticise human rights in Tibet and elsewhere, threatening trade sanctions and chastising them for "interfering in domestic affairs".

In the likely absence of robust concern on human rights expressed by the British Government this week, it is little wonder that campaigners intend to take to the streets.