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CHINA’S RISE AND , 1 . O THE IMPLICATIONS FOR N M U R

INTERNATIONAL O F S T H G I R A N I H

BY DAVID KAMPF C

China’s growing international power will 3

challenging enemies to respect human rights principles but 4 increasingly rival the U.S. in its potential not necessarily doing so itself . Recent U.S. actions , including the indiscriminate “war on ,” indefinite S to influence human rights outside its borders. and , allow other countries to rational - N O I At present, China’s influence on human rights ize their own actions such as discrimination and internal sup - T U T pression. American exceptionalism has damaged international I —both domestically and internationally—has T human rights. Chinese exceptionalism threatens more of the S N been negative. It needn’t be. I

same. D N

Over the last two decades , China’s economic growth rate A

World powers have the luxury and ability to affect the interna - has averaged just under 10 percent a year .This unprecedented S N O tional human rights movement and shape human rights and unmatched development has altered the balance of world I T A norms. As a world superpower, the has been power. No longer is China’s clout dwarfed by that of the L E instrumental in the evolution of human rights—both helpful United States and Europe. China’s influence is apparent , and R L in developing mechanisms of enforcement and harmful in increasingly China’s “peaceful rise ” will have implications for A N O

negating their authority. China’s rise threatens to challenge U .S. human rights not only domestically but also around the globe. I T dominance . How will China’s growth transform the equation? China’s economic and political power compels countries to A N

China’s burgeoning economic and political power will have reduce their pressure on its domestic human rights record and R E T

mounting ramifications for international human rights by pro - makes it easier for China to disregard world condemnation and N I viding the opportunity to dictate the extent to which human scorn. Its emerging sway in international affairs will increas - rights are defended outside and inside its borders. ingly dictate how successfully human rights are defended out - Human rights are inextricably linked to the political envi - side its borders. The status of international human rights will ronment fostered by dominant nations. Ideally, human rights greatly depend on whether or not China decides to become a organizations and individual countries would be able to alter responsible global power and emphasize the importance of international norms in a way that makes it more difficult for universal human rights. countries or companies to commit violations. Realistically, however, powerful groups selectively and opportunistically China’s influence on human rights outside its borders choose when to follow human rights norms and when to flout China’s rapid and consistent economic growth has increased its them when they are unenforceable. Human rights have presence and relevance in world affairs. Businesses and become the voice of diplomacy —justifying inaction and investors are pouring into its domestic market to benefit from action —but descend to little more than rhetoric when they the seemingly unending expansion, and many countries are hinder the accomplishment of strategic goals. attempting to spur their own economic growth by working to The United States has remained at the forefront of the improve trade relations with China. Trade ties and its economic human rights movement since the end ofWorldWar II. Due to pull have provided China with escalating leverage in the its visibility and power, international norms depend on U .S. domestic affairs of other countries. support and encouragement, while its guarantees of political China’s integration into the world economy has gone hand- and civil rights (including and ) in-hand with deepening security and political relationships and its imperfect but vibrant inspire less powerful with countries throughout Asia and the world. China has nations to extend the same rights to their citizens. On the other proactively fostered stronger political and military partner - hand , fundamental human rights, as embodied in the Univer - ships through regional and multilateral institutions , including sal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent international the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Shanghai Coop - conventions, are not the core of U .S. foreign policy. The U .S., eration Organization. Armed with its Security like a number of other countries, applies a double standard by Council veto and growing strength, China maintains influence Chinese President accompanies Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe at a welcoming ceremony in ’s Great Hall of the People in July 2005. Photo: AFP/Getty Images over major international negotiations and events. In the future, human rights record . Diplomatic and economic relations are China has the potential to effectively counter the power of the developed regardless of political realities (unless a nation recog - United States. nizesTaiwan as an independent country). China’s philosophy is based on the assumption that sover - What impact will this have on international human rights? eignty rests with a nation’s . This ignores, however, Traditionally, the international human rights movement has the evolving definition of sovereignty. The human rights move - focused on civil and political rights. Economic, cultural and ment argues that sovereignty rests with the people and cannot social rights have received less attention from the United States be dehumanized ; therefore territorial integrity can and should and to some extent Europe. Ensuring equality is arguably less be broken if part or all of the population is victim to gross tangible , and a sensitive subject to many countries. This is why human rights abuses .The movement insists that the world can - the rights embedded in the Universal Declaration were split not sit idly by , and that signatories of the Convention on the into the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of 1 have a and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural “responsibility to protect .” Intervening to prevent wide-scale Rights. China’s rise has the potential to shift the emphasis from suffering is allowed and encouraged. civil and political rights to a broader and more inclusive defi - China’s policy of politely avoiding the human rights record nition of human rights if China moves the conversation in this of other countries has been convenient as it covets raw materi - direction .This, however, seems unlikely as China is experienc - als and seeks to quench its ever-growing thirst for oil. “Busi - ing emerging problems of inequality and signed and ratified ness is business. ”2 This permissive policy has allowed China to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural cozy up to some of the world’s most repressive regimes , Rights as recently as 1997 and 2001, respectively. including , Zimbabwe, North Korea and . Even China’s foreign policy revolves around the principle of non- when the United States and Europe attempt to isolate, sanction, intervention in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states .Ter - criticize and alter the behavior of despots, China provides ritorial integrity is imperative for the world’s peace and security diplomatic cover for its allies and enables autocrats to continue and sovereignty is held above all else. It asserts that outside pow - abusive policies. China has been under increasing pressure to ers are arrogant to believe that they can and should compel gov - use its influence to curtail violations, but has thus far only ernments to change. China feels that its interests are best served softly nudged the worst abusers . In order to retain its eco - when it avoids entanglement in the affairs of others , and its nomic links, China practices “quiet diplomacy ,” and does little hands-off policy is a useful way to deflect criticism from its own to pressure violators of human rights. A po i th n Th men Fo th ti u co i b poli ot A A su ov E ca reg si forg h pen st den A an I slow 2 u w to Ch li u clo rag loa al- world ra fu da n k nt n t ur illed y erable na uma 00 nder on ndermin on-Ara ed fri fri fri ve ri ill mpa her is i free ses, r, bjug er rru nt d Ba con i e erconn rd i sely ns th e e i ngs- Th A Ch Ch ts ope na r ddres dable t lic c c c mes ci 6 gove i e Eu prereq det t f t a l id by vene Su a an an shi na Hu ose o ollo ven y , forei Un of pt fter th es, n h to exter e in in and moneta stru nt an press, ma con a w at rop politica li elp dan’ fro tura mo ie er nd ion p atta a r c w co lead r. a a i b ft pr i i a i s os J rnment- d u C ts ro i civil w ’s th sed on suggested ghts ss i io nd and rkets sev n O h ect ho s, ed it civilians. ther gn ltivat ntao ct stant untries e m hina millio co Africa essure nit ensur bo uisites na as o t blem ched l s ver economic is rating p olerance trad o r e ers ed il by railro reso ed—p eral ind equire exacerb untries o C bo ar a Ch when f aid l th or . r not ry strif p nd wer, e fro This . hina ecently s l deb po e ing t and o is to o threat rd and tate e he are ep hav aid e a ns lit p dep St urces. with ut years strategy. jumped wers armed in m d at incent id easier diminished ers e on that olicy that ads, situation a t endent ic espot p side conso o strong is ates disp C is More no e as t Prim times Sino-Afri that recipients the flows s ca o ast a lit endent ally-cha out atin hina of o s corrupt made wit why simply . and groups growth this gain sheltered n cial have ic aid roadw of is tra For In w is s power lac hu continent ives, to ic be al China’s milit g evera of e h lidati stee nspa than 40 a C a prot 2003, ea give and ties i judic t Minis ineq limit f man ed line lea the fre dea C ravels thos act ac th hi po coun nd refr numer been ha on had r , ion a per ay a ca sier ia na p ces ders ged edoms , . 5 l gra vert o id s Wor s. l ng ect ren wit s to us ai 4 mat ua o d esh s a poor s gr ed ia e r wit th righ pla inf f 00, S , ter So nd Eu f s. eca un c ha . d terpr s a lau in o a e pple s plagu mod ry uda ed t low lit ent owt t Chin eir nd . c t h a y n o t ta rum he of In o mo t hin Th i ld t me a ced , y ter o id h s flinch heir Wen d n he t ies to violen 00 des S u mous nched tes t an a ts rope he fr been ter req g he n ud A th r s Cent n nd s Ba port - is in c h. fro od einforce ervi ne kin o el at o for a fric 0 wit d a ont change a t o ed hu a a from , i wi w buses na rips m hum an f deal s rgue 3 nk, i n ural a uiremen nd 2 n r is u S y r th p goo trategy n J m ec bility Ch estern ing g esp iabao udan 0 s man no- ctive eople ral l contro hholdin ces B tend th by rol a. ese cour the ce manipu r can rela . at a 06 egimes p ono is eijing th Trade injus the 4 to ina olitics d genocide reso poor onsiv internatio th A ha po ex suppor interes tha e of i f Presid United to t itar s be or frican governance, A ed from wi an ting economic at i to to U has mics s U ploitation welcomed litical v n demon frica regio been of repres tices t l .S. ts ely a urces reach o nited sur C s recipients. between help ian in the o lrea e g lation e hu iphon w th hina’ iso veryth access and ver endured ri are countries and go of ent t the popu No vi t an rec . 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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS 45 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO. 1, 2007 Growing inequalities, the erosion of public health and forward movement. There is still hope, also, that China will decreasing economic security have increased social turbulence, find its long-term business and strategic interests best served causing the government to clamp down on unrest and contro - in stable countries that respect human rights , and that it needs versial opinions. In the words of one commentator: “The past to protect the human rights of its own citizens in order to year was dominated by further repression of the press and maintain relations with other countries . , the prosecution of civic activists and the who China’s political and economic rise has drastic and unavoid - represent them, and increased efforts to keep religion under able implications for human rights outside its borders, as its the control of the state.” 11 soft power and military provide both the carrot and the stick to As China’s hard and soft power (economic, cultural and entice or force other countries to respond to its urgings. Cur - diplomatic ) grows, countries will be less inclined to pressure rently, China’s hands-off approach and business-first philoso - China over its domestic human rights record , believing that it phy have curtailed its ability to improve human rights among is in their own best interest to encourage good relations. its trading partners .With enough pressure externally and Increasingly dependent on China economically, politically and domestically, China may still be compelled to use its influence strategically, countries will wield little influence over its for the better and become a responsible global power that actions . China will be increasingly impervious to international leads the human rights movement by example. condemnation , and there will be fewer repercussions for its disregard of international human rights norms . NOTES Even the United States has hesitated to confront China 1. United Nations, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the regarding its domestic human rights record , demonstrating Crime of Genocide, adopted by Resolution 260 (III) A of the U.N. Gen - China’s weight in international affairs. Human rights is a deli - eral Assembly on December 9, 1948, entry into force: January 12, 1951. cate subject and is often only highlighted because politicians 2. Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister , ZhouWenzhong, quoted in Howard receive domestic pressure to raise the issue. In 1993, the U .S. W. French, “China in Africa: AllTrade,With No Political Baggage,” The attempted to link human rights to the renewal of China’s Most NewYorkTimes, August 8, 2004, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/ 08/international/asia/08china.html?ex=1249704000&en=30ac3abb1 Favored Nation status for international trade, but the condi - 3a189a6&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland . tions were dropped a year later. More recently, the United 3. Reuters, “Factbox-China-AfricaTrade Links,” Reuters AlertNet, February States tried to censure China at the United Nations Human 2, 2007, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01887144. Rights Commission ,12 but the plan was aborted when China htm . successfully quelled support. Human rights in China have been 4. Ibid. relegated to the sidelines of bilateral relations. The U .S. has 5. Save Darfur, “Background,” http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/ pushed for an open dialogue , but largely as a symbolic gesture background . to appease American constituents. Without overt criticism and 6. Esther Pan, “China, Africa, and Oil ,” Council of Foreign Relations , Janu - strong public condemnation there is little possibility that the ary 26, 2007 , http://www.cfr.org/publication/9557/china_africa_and U.S. will directly contribute to the improvement of human _oil.html . rights in China. 7. Anna KajumoloTibaijuka, “Report of Fact-Finding Mission to Zimbabwe to assess the Scope and Impact of Operation Murambatsvina,” United Companies have also been cautious in their relations with Nations Human Settlements Program, July 18, 2005, http://www. China. Powerful international businesses have capitulated to unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/1664_96507_ZimbabweReport.pdf . China’s demands to ensure unfettered access to its booming 8. Simon Roughneen , “Influence Anxiety: China’s Role in Africa ,” Interna - economy . Last year,Yahoo! and Microsoft’s MSN agreed to cen - tional Relations and Security Network , May 15, 2006 , http://www.isn. sor specific content on theirWeb sites , andYahoo! passed user ethz.ch/news/sw/details_print.cfm?id=15837 . information to the government. Google, whose official motto 9. Sophie Richardson, “China Can Help the People of Zimbabwe and is “Don’t be evil,” agreed to filter the content of searches on Sudan ,” Human RightsWatch, November 3, 2006, http://hrw.org/ “sensitive ” subjects such asTibet, democracy and human english/docs/2006/11/03/china14509.htm . rights for Chinese Internet users. 10. Human RightsWatch , “Burma: UN Security Council Must Press for Reforms ,” September 29, 2006 , http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/ Counteracting China’s negative effects 09/29/burma14282.htm . 11. Arch Puddington, “Freedom in theWorld 2007: Freedom Stagnation on international human rights Amid Pushback Against Democracy ,” , January 17, 2007 , In order to improve China’s record at home and abroad, coun - http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/press_release/fiw07_ tries need to make human rights a key component of every overview_final.pdf . discussion. Even though China will be increasingly able to 12. The Commission was replaced by the Human Rights Council by UN resist international shame and pressure, an international spot - Resolution 60/251 on April 3, 2006.The change was in effect on light on its practices will provide the greatest opportunity for June 16, 2006.