US officials and lawmakers took aim at China Wednesday, saying human rights were deteriorating in the communist-run nation as Chinese leaders move to quash even the slightest sign of dissent.

“The overall situation of human rights in China continues to deteriorate,” said Michael Posner, assistant secretary of state for human rights, after two days of talks with Chinese officials in Washington.

While he praised China’s rapid growth which has lifted “hundreds of millions… out of poverty,” Posner also stressed “that political reforms in China have not kept pace with economic advances.”

Chinese people needed to be able to voice legitimate grievances and play a “meaningful role in the political development of their own society,” he said.

During the talks with the Chinese side, led by Chen Xu, a director general from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US also raised the issue of China’s crackdown on the Uighurs, as well as the self-immolations by about 40 Tibetans.