THE D UI HUA D I A L O G U E FOUNDATION ᎒ಈߖঈ Issue 25 • Fall 2006 Domestic Politics in China, US IN THIS ISSUE: Pose Challenges for Rights Dialogue Domestic Politics in China, US Pose rom August 21 through August than ever that foreign and domestic enemies Challenges for Rights F 23, 2006, several hundred offi cials, are plotting a color revolution. Hu has Dialogue including all China’s ambassadors and central decided to take strong measures to defeat 1–3 ministry leaders as well as representatives it, measures that were fi nalized during the Hard Time at from the provinces, met in Beijing to analyze annual leadership retreat at Beidahe and Englewood: Dui China’s position in the world and to listen at least partially spelled out at the central Hua Visits A Federal to “important speeches” by Party Chairman foreign affairs meeting, both of which took Prison Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. The place in August. The campaign to thwart 4-5 offi cial Xinhua News Agency reported that the color revolution will continue at least New Research all nine members of the standing committee through the 17th Party Congress slated to & Prisoner of the Politburo attended the meeting. take place in September 2007. Information As with all such meetings, offi cial In recent months, central and local 6–7 accounts gave few indications of what was authorities have jailed, harassed and News About actually said. Aside from a bland summary beaten human rights defenders (e.g., Dui Hua of Hu’s speech released by Xinhua and a Chen Guangcheng, Gao Zhisheng, and 8 couple of short news items stressing the Guo Feixiong), representatives of foreign economic policies that would fl ow from NGOs (e.g., former Asia Foundation the meeting, there was little coverage in researcher David Bu) and journalists (e.g., China’s domestic media. But because of the Zhao Yan and Ching Cheong); ordered large attendance, it did not take long before stricter surveillance over the operations foreign diplomats and overseas intelligence of foreign NGOs; and promulgated analysts were hearing about the topic of measures to restrict domestic and foreign Dialogue is written by Hu’s speech: the need to heighten vigilance media coverage of mass incidents. With the staff of The Dui Hua and resolutely struggle against a “color the exception of some forward movement Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to revolution” conceived by the United States in China’s relationship with the Vatican advancing the protection with support from key allies and carried out (a successful visit of papal envoys and of universally recognized by domestic and foreign enemies whose the freeing of Bishops An Shuxin and Jia human rights in China and the United States. smokeless weapons are NGOs, the Internet, Zhiguo), tensions with other religious and journalists, underground religious leaders, ethnic minorities have increased sharply, © 2006 and “human rights defenders”—a group with harsh repression of family members The Dui Hua Foundation singled out for special attention. of Rebiya Kadeer in Xinjiang and the 450 Sutter Street Suite 900 Despite attempts by President Bush to commencement of a campaign of vitriolic San Francisco, CA 94108 persuade Hu that the United States is not denunciation against the Dalai Lama which Email: [email protected] trying to foment regime change in China, is reminiscent of the language used in the Web: www.duihua.org the Chinese leader appears more convinced Cultural Revolution. Legal Reforms on Hold olution on sanctions against North harsh policies adopted to thwart the China’s Supreme People’s Court Korea in the United Nations Security color revolution, could well assume is still months away from taking back Council—it is nevertheless increas- chairmanship of the party’s “po- and exercising the power of review ingly clear that, in the area of human litico-legal committee,” in charge in death-penalty cases. A bill (whol- rights at least, China sees the United of suppressing dissent and reducing ly inadequate from a human rights States as a strategic competitor. Even public protest. perspective) to reform the reeduca- China’s pending ratifi cation of the In launching his campaign tion-through-labor system has been International Covenant on Civil and against the color revolution and its presented to the National People’s Political Rights (which, according to foreign bases of support, Hu is no Congress (NPC), but progress ap- senior Chinese offi cials, will be rati- doubt emboldened by the sharp drop pears to have ground to a halt. Mo- fi e d as soon as the March session of in America’s image and credibility mentum toward perhaps the most the NPC) appears to be motivated in abroad and developments on Taiwan, important legal reform—amendment part by a strong desire to be able to both of which raise the prospect of of the Criminal Procedure Law—has say that China has signed and ratifi ed future reunifi cation largely on Bei- also slowed. both human rights covenants, where- jing’s terms. President Bush has been Meanwhile, Chinese offi cials as the United States has not yet ratifi ed alienated by Chen Shui-bian’s behav- have adopted a harder line in their the International Covenant on Eco- ior, rendering the United States less dealings with foreigners on human nomic, Social, and Cultural Rights. a fan of Taiwan independence than rights. Foreign ministry and justice at any point since the nationalists ministry offi cials have rejected diplo- Jockeying for Party Congress Underway fl e d the mainland in 1949. China has matic requests for prisoner informa- One year from now, the Chi- improved ties with American foes in tion, and Dui Hua has been told that nese Communist Party will have just Venezuela and Iran, and its embrace the Ministry of Justice will no longer completed one of its fi ve-yearly con- of rogue states like the Sudan, Myan- accept its prisoner lists. Chinese hu- gresses, the most important event in mar, and Zimbabwe has never been man rights diplomats are far more China’s political calendar. Hu Jintao closer. Rights groups and govern- assertive, ticking off human rights is determined to install allies and de- ments cite Chinese fi libustering as a problems in the West and dismissing stroy rivals, as revealed in the ruthless principal reason behind the failure of charges of abuses in China. Several pursuit of cadres in leadership posi- the UN’s new human rights council western countries have been scolded tions in Shanghai, power base of for- to address human rights violations by Beijing for being members of the mer leader Jiang Zemin. Jockeying is and humanitarian crises aggressively. “Berne Process,” a loose grouping well underway for the 200-plus mem- of countries that meets annually to bers of the central committee, the 25 China’s Foes Set to Seize Power exchange information and views on to 30 members of the Politburo, and As this issue of Dialogue goes to China’s human rights. So dissatisfi ed the ten or so members of the stand- press, most polls predict control of are several of the dialogue countries ing committee of the Politburo, and the House of Representatives will that a few have considered postpon- no one can afford to be seen as weak shift to the Democratic Party when ing or even canceling planned dia- on domestic security issues and yield- Americans vote in mid-term elec- logue sessions. ing to foreign interests—least of all tions on November 7. Though less To defeat the color revolution, American interests. likely, control of the Senate could Hu Jintao seems prepared to risk Among those tipped to join the also go to the Democrats, who are damage to relations with the United standing committee is Zhou Yong- benefi ting from growing voter dis- States and other western countries. kang, who heads the Minstry of Pub- enchantment over the Iraq war and Although there have been some ar- lic Security and is currently a Polit- widespread anger over allegations of eas of US-China cooperation—most buro member. Zhou, who is widely corruption and sexual scandals in the notably with respect to issuing a res- seen as the architect of many of the Republican-dominated House. The 22 Dialogue prospect of Democratic control of International Relations Committee, at least one house of Congress, with Rep. Tom Lantos (D-California), like its potential for gridlock resulting Pelosi a San Francisco-area politician from dueling executive and legislative highly critical of China on human branches, would greatly affect the ex- rights grounds and a big supporter ecution of US foreign policy. of Tibet, and Rep. David Obey (D- The consequences for US-China Wisconsin), the likely chairman of relations could be especially severe the House Appropriations Commit- if, as widely expected, Rep. Nancy tee. The new chairman of the Ways Pelosi (D-California) is elected by the and Means Committee would be Rep. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) triumphant Democrats as Speaker of Charlie Rangel (D-New York), who the House. Pelosi built her political progress on economic rights but reluctantly voted in favor of granting career opposing China’s trade status cites “backsliding” by China in civil China permanent MFN status and because of its human rights record, and political rights.) In line to assume who has since become increasingly and there is no sign that she has chairmanship is Rep. Sandy Levin wary of free trade agreements. changed her basic temperament (D-Michigan), who helped create the Even if the Democrats manage towards the country. The fi rst signal CECC and who voted for permanent to take control of the Senate as well of how Pelosi would deal with China MFN, for which he paid a high price as the House, Democrats’ ability to were she to become Speaker could among labor voters in his district.