The German Marshall Fund of the United States

  • Our Organization
    • About GMF
      The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) strengthens transatlantic cooperation on regional, national, and global challenges and opportunities in the spirit of the Marshall Plan.

    Transatlantic Offices

    • Washington, DC
    • Ankara
    • Belgrade
    • Berlin
    • Brussels
    • Bucharest
    • Paris
    • Warsaw
    • Alliance for Securing Democracy
  • Our Work
    • Policy
      GMF provides effective ways forward to solving today’s transatlantic policy issues.
    • Leadership
      GMF programs offer rising leaders dynamic opportunities to hone their leadership skills.
    • Civil Society
      GMF supports civil society by fostering democratic initiatives, rule of law, and regional cooperation.
    • Research
      GMF publications examine the challenges facing the transatlantic region today and offer policy recommendations to address these challenges.
    • Perspectives
      Media, blogs, podcasts, video on the issues shaping the transatlantic relationship.
  • Our Events
    • Major Conferences & Forums
      GMF brings together hundreds of policymakers, elected officials, academics, and business leaders from around the world to discuss topics from energy to migration, economics to security, urban growth to diplomacy.
    • Recent & Upcoming Events
      GMF is committed to bringing the policy community together around transatlantic topics. Learn about events in its offices and other locations around the world.
  • Our Experts
  • Stay Informed
Search
Home
  • Our Experts
  • ABOUT US
  • FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
  • EXPERTS
  • LATEST RESEARCH
  • NEWS&EVENTS
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • SUPPORT CHARHAR

The Charhar Institute

  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Founding Chairman
    • Membership
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • Support Charhar
  • Regions

    • All Regions
    • America
    • Europe&Middle East
    • Asia
    • Africa&Latin America
    • Indo-Pacific
  • Topics

    • All Topics
    • Public Diplomacy and International Relations
    • Belt & Road Initiative
    • The Korean Peninsula
    • Economic and Trade
    • Communication
    • Law, Culture and Religion
    • Energy, Safety and Peace
  • Experts

  • Publications

    • All Publications
    • Public Dipmacy Quarterly
    • Other books and reports
    • Charhar Public Diplomacy series
    • Charhar Newsletter
    • Charhar International Relations series
    • Introduction to Public Diplomacy
  • News&Events

    • News&Events
    • Public Diplomacy
    • Peace Studies
    • Belt & Road
    • Charhar News
    • Announcement
    • For Media
Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn
ForeignAffairs.com
  • ABOUT US
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
  • FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
  • EXPERTS
  • LATEST RESEARCH
  • NEWS&EVENTS
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • SUPPORT CHARHAR

NEWS&EVENTS

Facing challenges, US' IPEF may make the Asia-Pacific economy more...

June 09, 2022

Behind Biden’s Asia Trip

June 09, 2022

US sinks its claws back into Somalia with an eye on China and Russia

May 23, 2022

The Taiwan Question amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

May 06, 2022

China’s Oil Deal v.s. the Dollar Mar 28, 2022

March 28, 2022

Biden’s Indo-Pacific Foray

February 26, 2022
More

Energy, Safety and Peace

Sudan's 'military-civilian co-governance' dies halfway

November 03, 2021

Human rights standards shall not be monopolized

October 14, 2021

Law, Culture and Religion

Israel's diplomatic breakthrough in Maghreb faces challenges

December 11, 2020

Meng ruling makes Ottawa new front line between Washington and Beijing

May 29, 2020

Communication

He Wenping: Fake news fails in damaging Sino-African ties

January 31, 2019

Resistance from within the White House

September 10, 2018

Economic and Trade

Challenges for the G20 in overcoming the pandemic

November 26, 2020

Liberalization and non-interference by government will clean up Pakistan'...

July 07, 2020

The Korean Peninsula

Su Hao: Tokyo should give ground to resolve tensions with Seoul over ‘comfo...

June 26, 2019

Swaran Singh: Can next U.S.-DPRK meeting be expected?

June 12, 2019

Belt & Road Initiative

China-Africa unity sees friendship of new era

January 05, 2021

Unchangeable Commitment

February 19, 2020

Public Diplomacy and International Relations

The key to peace between Russia and Ukraine CGTN

March 03, 2022

Biden’s first year marked by lows and challenges

March 03, 2022
More

Introduction to Public Diplomacy

Diplomatic Theory and Practice

June 21, 2018

Introduction to Public Diplomacy 2nd Edition

June 20, 2018

Charhar International Relations series

International Public Product: China and the World at the Midst of Revolut...

June 21, 2018

Power and Wealth: Economic Nationalism and International Relationships und...

June 21, 2018

Charhar Newsletter

Charhar Newsletter

August 16, 2018

Charhar Public Diplomacy series

Winning the Chinese Hearts and Souls

June 20, 2018

City Diplomacy: China’s Practice and Foreign Experience

June 20, 2018

Other books and reports

The impotence of conventional arms control

March 25, 2020

How Did Stalin Fall into the “Thucydides Trap”

February 27, 2020

Public Dipmacy Quarterly

Public Diplomacy Quarterly

August 17, 2018
More

Human rights standards shall not be monopolized

October 14 ,2021
                                                                                

A farmer harvests rice in Shanghua Village, Tianzhu County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, September 2, 2020. /Xinhua


In the last 20 years of the twentieth century, China actively joined the wave of globalization. Since then, the development and prosperity of this Asian country have been accompanied by criticism on human rights issues according to the Western perspective, which believes the words "human rights" are taboo and the most forgotten terrain in the rapid development of this Eastern country.


"Human rights" has been the cheapest excuse to reproach the Chinese governance and the sharpest knife to smear the ruling Party's achievements and the welfare of the Chinese people.


In fact, early in 1991, the Chinese government published its first white paper on human rights. Since then, China has gradually accepted the internationally accepted concept and the institutional framework of human rights. In 2004, "the State respects and protects human rights" was included in the Constitution as a basic principle. The principle has been thus implemented into the normative documents underpinning the legislation, administration and judiciary system.


In addition, "furthering the development of the cause of human rights" has also been incorporated into subsequent national strategies and plans. "The people's yearning for a better life" has become the fighting goal of the ruling party and has given this country's concept of human rights a deep meaning of " people-centered." Today, China embodies the respect for and the protection of human rights in the whole process of modernizing the national governance system and capabilities.


However, the word of those who are experiencing this great process is more convincing. In recent decades, the strength of the country has increased significantly. It is precisely in those years that the state of Chinese people's  human rights saw significant improvement. A swathe of systems and mechanisms were created to protect people's human rights. Among them are the nine-year compulsory education, the minimum life guarantee, the minimum wage guarantee, employment assistance and career guarantee, health insurance, government transparency, democracy and autonomy based on legal assistance, all of which have lifted the state of human rights from "survival" to "development."


What shames countries that call themselves "human rights defenders" is that these systems cover all Chinese, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the world's population. Unlike the traditional philosophy of human rights, which is based on the protection of various political rights and takes "freedom" as its core, China strives to protect the rights of each Chinese citizen in the development of national prosperity and rejuvenation and people's happiness.


It is precisely based on this principle that China upholds the idea that the human rights situation is on a dynamic development path and is intimately related to its own political situation, economic development and social structure. 

Therefore, the best end does not exist, only the better-than-best end. Since 2009, China has successively formulated and implemented four phases of "National Human Rights Action Plans," setting goals and tasks to respect, protect and promote human rights in the coming period.


After this stage, the implementation will be evaluated, and a summary will be made to set up a plan for the next phase. The "Evaluation Report on the Implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (2016-2020)" published at the end of September 2020 showed that the 168 goals and tasks of the document were completed, many of them ahead of schedule.


The report cannot be expected to move the entire international community to face up to the situation of Chinese power. Human rights remain a weapon that some countries and the forces use to try to discredit China for political purposes, interfere in its internal affairs and curb its development.


However, for the people who really care about the cause of human rights progress in the world, it is still necessary to consider it.


While it is recognized as an internationally accepted practice to refine the human rights situation into several quantifiable indicators for evaluation, the selection of indicators should not be monopolized by individual countries or groups. The root causes of human rights issues are rooted in differences and confrontations between the East and West and between developed and developing countries.


A female tourist tries on a flower hat during the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 8, 2019. /VCG


The above-mentioned action plan and evaluation report respect the general views of the international community on human rights. Take as examples civil and political rights, of which there are 51 items in total. Another is the rights of specific groups, 37 items in total, and 15 items on implementing international human rights treaties and international exchanges and cooperation. Their assessment indicators incorporate the dominant views of the international community on human rights.


This coincides with China's consistent position in this field: It must learn from all countries of the world the principles and practices useful for the protection and promotion of human rights, and, at the same time, make its own contribution to the cause of human rights in the world.


For those who seek to "maintain hegemony" in the name of "preserving international order," it is not necessary to deceive the world and create a lie for "some country is committed to changing international human rights rules." 

"Respect is the basis of interpersonal relationships," if they do not respect the progress and concepts of human rights of other countries, it is not worth discussing human rights issues with them.


Honestly, there are discrepancies on this issue in international society. Some emphasize political and civil liberties, while others emphasize economic rights. There are people who believe that only human rights that can be remedied by justice are human rights, and others think that social welfare constitutes human rights. Some believe that individual rights are superior to collective rights, and some believe it is quite the opposite.


Each has its strengths and weaknesses.


Editor's note: Pan Deng is a member of the Academic Committee at Charhar Institute, executive director of the Latin America Law Center of China University of Political Science and Law, and distinguished professor at the Center for Latin American Studies at the Southwest University of Science and Technology. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.


Author

PAN Deng

Adjunct Fellow

Stay Informed

Don't miss our latest dynamic. Sign up to receive emailed news, events, opinion, and publication notifications.

Subscribe

Follow

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • SoundCloud
  • Instagram
Charhar Institute
  • About Us
  • Founding Chairman
  • Experts
  • Latest Research
  • News&Events
  • Publications
  • Support Charhar
  • Careers

 

"The Charhar Institute is committed to promoting progress in China’s foreign policies and the development of international relations in a more orderly manner."
- Dr Han Fangming,Charhar Chairman

CONTACT US

  • Phone:+86 10 68290431
  • Fax:010-80777830
  • Email:secretariat@charhar.org.cn
  • Facebook:The Charhar Institute
  • Twitter:@CharharINST

©2023 Charhar Institute. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use