Beijing to draft human rights action plan

China will draft its first "national action plan" on human rights to propose ways to "expand democracy and strenghen the rule of law," the Financial Times reported, citing state media. The plan will be drawn up by a panel including government officials and legal and human rights experts. The scope and specific details for plan were not available. Observers say the announcement may be a tactical move to pre-empt criticism ahead of a review by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next February. Next year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, which is likely to prompt renewed debate about political reform on the mainland.