Bush objected, saying, “You ought to welcome people being able to express their minds.”

In Thursday’s speech, the president is softening his message somewhat by saying any changes in China would have to come “on its own terms and in keeping with its own history and traditions.”

“Ultimately only China can decide what course it will follow,” he says.

Still, his strong words are likely to anger the leadership in Beijing.

Bush already drew the ire of Chinese officials by meeting ahead of his trip at the White House with prominent Chinese exiles and dissidents.

Bush has made clear that while he is going to Beijing mostly as an Olympics fan, he would talk frankly with Chinese President Hu Jintao during their private meetings. It was also known that he would speak publicly about religious freedom after attending a Beijing church service and that the White House was trying to arrange other meetings while he is in Beijing over four days.

In addition, White House press secretary Dana Perino said the U.S. would protest China’s decision to deny a visa for former Olympic speed skater Joey Cheek, who was planning to travel to Beijing to urge that the Chinese government help make peace in the war-torn Darfur section of Sudan.

“We are taking the matter very seriously,” Perino said Wednesday. “We would hope that they would change their minds.”

Bush’s Bangkok remarks devote only a few sentences to criticism for the “tyranny” in Myanmar, Thailand’s neighbor, which is ruled by a military junta. He called for the release of the country’s democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as other political prisoners.

Though Samak, the Thai prime minister, regards himself as a friend of Myanmar’s generals, Bush heaped praise on his Thai hosts, calling them close allies in the war on terror and noting they’ve sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

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