Human Rights Questions Remain for China
February 15th, 2008
Submitted By: D.J. Parsons
I found this CNN article and thought it fit in nicely with the topic of human rights in China. As we all know, China will be hosting the 2008 Olympics, but as we may not have know people have high expectations in the outcome of letting the Chinese government host these games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that they felt the games would lead to positive change in China, but many activist groups are saying no change has occurred.
Some say that the police and secret police will be guarding known dissidents to make sure that they do not converse with any western reporters. In addition, some say that labor rights have worsened over the last few years.
Han Dongfang, a Hong Kong –based labor rights activists says that change will need to come from within the country and that international pressure will not create change. He stated, “The Chinese leadership does not care about international pressure. It is not China who is knocking at the door of the international community looking for favors — it is the other way around.”
Although many may see the Olympics as a possible changing point for China some believe that China sees it as an opportunity to gain prestige and a stronger grip on its citizens.
China scholar Willy Wo Lap Lam said, “The Chinese Communist Party sees the Games as an opportunity to show the world China’s great achievements in the economy and infrastructure and to demonstrate their diplomatic clout. Internally, the Games will help the Party foster ‘internal cohesiveness’ using national pride to justify the Party’s ruling status. No Chinese Communist Party leader wants to use the Games as a juncture to push forward reforms.”
I found this article very interesting and loved the quote made by Han Dongfang, because he is right — why would the Chinese government care about international pressure when most other countries are going to them asking for favors? China probably feels that they are on their way to the top and once there, they will not need the help of outsiders. I also found the differing interests of the Chinese government and outsiders in the Olympics captivating. I would imagine that the main goal of China is to showcase their achievements to the world and to use it as a symbol to show they have made it onto the world radar as a power.
Should China only desire to be seen as a country with a flourishing economy and infrastructure? Do they purposely not make changes in human rights to maintain power and control and to boast an economy dependent on cheap labor and cheap manufacturing? If China improved labor rights the cost of labor would increase and their products would be more expensive, this could cost them business. They also may feel that if they gave more freedoms to the people they may desire a different form of government and thus launch them into another rebellion. Right now China has no desire to change things that could potentially hinder their rise to power.
The article states that China is clamping down on people they do not want to talk to make China look better. It makes me wonder what these people could possibly say to make China look worse than they do by shutting them up.
Should the Olympics hold a political and social agenda? The IOC says no, but then continues to say that the Olympics are expected to create lasting and positive change in China. That seems like an agenda to me. I feel the Olympics do hold political and social agendas. They represent the gathering of the world at one event and show us parts of the world most of us will never see. Through these interactions people learn of other cultures, other struggles, and other problems. In turn, they learn of changes that are needed or wanted in other parts of the world and gain support for causes.
Entry Filed under: Pre-Departure, Beijing, China
6 Comments Add your own
1. Jesse Bilsten | February 17th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Something that just came up today and relates to this post as well as the post on china’s YouTube site.
Apparently China has banned all horror movies.
Looks like they’re definitely protecting their citizens in every way possible before the Olympic games. I don’t agree with the way they’re handling it, but I’m not an expert in Chinese culture. Maybe one of our MBA’s from that area can give us some incite.
2. Ryan Moore | February 17th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
With the spotlight of the world on them during the Olympic Games, the Chinese government might find their secrets exposed. How will these games and the media attention surrounding them effect the way the world views China? All it would take is one person in a country of over 1 billion, to leak a human rights atrocity to the media and China’s shiny exterior could be severely tarnished. Will their plans to “guard” the troublemakers work, or will it intensify the situation? These games would be the perfect opportunity for dissidents to stage a human rights protest. The eyes of the entire world are on them! How would the Chinese government respond with the world watching?
3. Chris Carr | February 17th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Human rights articles on China appear to be picking up in both intensity of criticism and in number/quantity. Or at least it seems so to me lately as I do my own radar reading. If the numbers actually support this, it would make sense — the Olympics are roughly 6 months away. Too close the the event you don’t get the steam and/or critical mass you want for a movement or change; but too far away from the event and people will likely give the topic short(er) shrift.
4. Naomi Guy | February 20th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
It will certainly be interesting to watch how this topic unfolds in the next 6 months. As the build up continues, I suspect that more claims will be made on both fronts, first that the government is hiding something, and secondly that people are pushing for a change. Personally, I would like to see the focus be brought onto how they have changed. They are obviously not the same country that many of our parents or grandparents have known, progress has been made. The article acknowledges that China is using the games to show their economic achievements, but there can be no economy with out the people.
5. Gary Chou | February 21st, 2008 at 8:25 am
I have read many articles and points of view on whether China would change as a result of Olympics, since this topic is related to whether China would invade Taiwan before Olympics, it was of massive interest for people living in Taiwan. (Taiwanese people thought maybe the [crazy] government led by the [crazy] DPP party would use this chance to declare independence…
Anyway, I think
1. China would not care about outside pressure, and I don’t want to tell you why, because it will get really lengthy.
2. You were right in pointing out the world is asking “Favor” and I think there is nothing wrong w/ that. War on Terrorism (by the way, for those of you hope it goes away w/ a new administration, sorry, it won’t go away) for example, heavily depends on China to negotiate deals and control arm trades. China has far greater reaches and sticky powers in many regions (central asia, middle east, africa and russia) that American government is frowned upon.
We need China as a partner on advancing many global agenda and humanitarian aids, and this is only good for the mankind.
3. Lastly and MOST IMPORTANTLY, China WILL change. And trust me when I say this that, the change in China will come from within as the leaders clearly know what needs to be done and are working on it.
It’s like a high pressure cooker, you can’t just simply open the lid. Changes take time and patience, and for China, it’s an incredibly difficult work.
Deng (I think it’s him) once said, in China anything is a big problem, because when there is a small problem, you multiple by one billion than you got a big problem. (Sorry for the crude translation here.)
Yes they are aware of it, and they really couldn’t stop the tank and machine gun that killed freedom fighter on 6-4, because if they did that, they might not prevail to this day. Not all progress needs to take place visibly, but surely they will just as glacier shapes earth topology.
6. Brandi Eng-Rohrbach | February 26th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Some new developments on this subject. Just today China announced it wants to resume discussion on human rights in preparation for the Olympics. See Washington Post Article here.
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