Human Rights Kabuki – Rejoinder

I have a number of problems with your post. For starters, AI is absolutely correct: The US IS one of the only countries, if not the only country, that can meaningfully stand up to China on human rights issues. No matter how pessimistic a view you take of the US human rights record, it is unequivocally better than China’s has ever been. Basic human rights, such as freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, etc. are not respected and routinely trampled upon in China every single day. It should go without saying that regardless of the mistakes of the past decade concerning human rights in the US, and by the US internationally, that the US has the moral high ground in any discussion of human rights with China. The US doesn’t have the best record when compared to all 200+ nations of the world, but it is near the top of the list.

Secondly, the US is essentially the only nation that China will listen to on this issue. Internationally China only respects two things: power and their own image. The economic and military power the US could bring to bear on China far outweighs that of any other country. That makes China listen. It won’t make them follow the advice, but at least they will listen. Even Europe doesn’t have the clout to get China to sit up straight and listen. That’s the whole point. So even though your concerns about HR in America over the past 10 years are valid, I think in this context they are not that important. The US has the power to pressure and shame China internationally in this respect, if they don’t use this power isn’t that detrimental to the entire world?

If we begin to use the paradigm that you aren’t perfect so you have no right to tell us how to treat our citizens, then there is no country in the world that has that authority, which is what the PRC government actively argues. If the US and other European countries start to accept such reasoning then the world will become a much worse place very quickly.

Also, stating that Amnesty International is out of touch and that their “pet issue” is human rights is completely wrong. Amnesty International’s mission is “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.” In other words it isn’t their “pet issue” it is their reason for existence. I would like to say I got that quote from their website, but since I am in China I cannot access their website, so I had to take it from the Wikipedia entry. You know, the Internet is just not that “open” in China. AI has been one of the most important international organizations over the past 10 years publicizing and pushing for the US to stop backpedaling on HR and to live up to their own standards. I would say the world would be a far worse place without “annoying” organizations like AI. Far from being irrelevant, they are more important than ever in today’s world. It is ironic that the statement you quote from AI is not even available for the people of China to read or comment on.

Finally, your statement that “apparently the US respects human rights.” is borderline offensive. The US has done many terrible things to people and nations internationally, and to its own citizens. But looking at the big picture, there are few countries in the world where human rights are guaranteed and protected as they are in the US. I by no means am saying the US is perfect, but I would much rather the US be the de facto sole world superpower than nearly any other country. Would anyone want to live in a world where China, or Russia, or even a lot of European countries were to occupy the position the US currently does?

I would also like to say that I think that the US should continue to push for the advancement of human rights of all countries of the world, INCLUDING DOMESTICALLY. If the US doesn’t then who will? In dealing with China the US should push for the advancement of HR, but of course not make it a prerequisite to dealing with China. If the US for some pragmatic reason were to decide to take HR off the table when dealing with China, it would not just be a tragedy for the Chinese and American people, it would be a tragedy for the entire world.