The US Double Standard in Human Rights

On May 24, the U.S. issued the 2011 edition of its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. In it, they alleged that China’s human rights situation “continued to deteriorate” last year and labeled China an authoritarian state. On May 25, China’s State Council Information Office also released its Human Rights Record of the United States in 2011 in response to the biased critique from the U.S. against human rights practices in China. The U.S. has sung the same tune year after year, using human rights issues to discredit China and influence the development of U.S.-China relations. For the two nations to develop a new mutually beneficial relationship as world powers, they must adopt a new paradigm of mutual respect, equality and trust. They must also address differences in an appropriate manner. China vows that its positive human rights record speaks for itself, while the U.S. instead uses the “human rights card” to pressure China. As a result, the stability of China will erode, only causing resentment among the Chinese people.

The U.S. has published its Country Reports on Human Rights every year since the early 1970s, taking on the role of a “preacher” and finding human rights problems in every country, specifically by criticizing China. Following the peaceful rise of China, the U.S. has increasingly used human rights issues to smear China’s international image. However, the U.S. itself has a spotty record on human rights, yet still uses China’s record to defame them and interfere in Chinese internal affairs – all for the sake of strategic interests. Such behavior will result in resentment and reprisals from China.

During the fourth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, which concluded at the start of March, Hu Jintao, the President of China, pointed out that the development of a new type of relationship between the U.S. and China as world powers requires equality and mutual understanding. China and the U.S. face different challenges, and it is impossible for the two to see eye to eye on every issue. So, a new approach must be used to treat and promote the development of the new relationship between China and the U.S. Both sides must learn to respect each other, find common ground and appropriately handle disagreements. Differences should be properly dealt with through diplomatic exchanges and increasing understanding in order to avoid any damage on greater U.S.-China relations.

The Chinese government has increasingly focused on and improved its human rights situation, and has achieved results unprecedented in human history. In the past few years, the Chinese government’s active work in implementing its “people-oriented” administrative philosophy and great efforts toward constructing a “harmonious society” are the best manifestations of China’s respect and guarantees for human rights. The U.S. should respect these facts and properly assess China’s human rights situation, instead of turning human rights into an ideology, making a fuss over the issue and forcing its own value system upon China.

The Country Reports on Human Rights also indicated that in Hong Kong, freedom of assembly and academic freedom has suffered, some self-censorship has continued to exist in the media, and both residents and Legco representatives have had limited control over the government. The special administrative region has unceasingly attempted to preserve its citizens’ freedoms by thoroughly implementing “the Basic Law.” In the past year, Hong Kong has made progress in terms of political development, academic freedoms, guarantees for minority rights and other areas. America’s evaluation of human rights in Hong Kong is only a one-sided perspective and does not accurately reflect Hong Kong’s record and improvements made in the protection of human rights.