Gonzaga Debate Institute 2010

Credibility Adv. – China Module – US Credibility K2

Without US pressure, Chinese human rights violations will explode

Wang 3 (Dan, http://www.cecc.gov/pages/roundtables/060203/wang.php, date accessed: 6/26/2010) AJK

With respect to this latter situation I have five points to share with you today. I think we can admit that there has been some progress on human rights. But I think that this progress, at least partly, if not completely, is due to the pressure from the international community. As an example we can look at the period between 1992 and 1997. During that time there was consistent considerable pressure from the West and as a result human rights violations in China decreased notably. After 1997, however, when the pressure was relaxed, there was substantial erosion of China's human rights record. Therefore, I strongly believe that the United States and other Western countries should keep up their ongoing pressure on China to improve its human rights situation. I disagree with those who fear that if the U.S. keeps up its human rights pressures on China that this will have a negative effect on Sino-U.S. relations. Second, it is obvious that China still lacks a mature civil society. However, over the last fourteen years we have witnessed the gradual emergence of a developing civil society. I think that it is very important that the United States pay attention to these sprouts of civil society in China and do all that it can to cultivate them. I believe that it is short-sighted for the U.S. government only to focus on the actors in the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party. Therefore, I think that the United States China policy should move from attention only on human rights issues to other issues of political reform and democratic politics. One way that the U.S. can do this is to provide support for NGOs and universities in China as a way to promote social contacts. Third, as the U.S. is facing the challenge of terrorism in the new century, I can completely understand the necessity to strengthen its strategy against terrorism. However, I am worried that an unfortunate side-effect of this strategy may be a tightening of the U.S. policy that allows Chinese students and scholars to come to the States for exchanges, study, and visits. As one of the beneficiaries of this program myself, as well as a beneficiary of the human rights pressure from the international community, I sincerely hope that this will not occur. The current generation of overseas Chinese students, sooner or later, will return to China, and I believe they will be a motivating force for the further development of reform in China, including political reform. Therefore, I think it is important that the U.S. government allow this door to remain open, and even to open it wider by expanding its contacts with the Chinese students already in America. Fourth, it is not enough for the U.S. government merely to take a general stand to promote democracy in China. I think a more detailed and in-depth strategy is required, for instance based on specific cases, such as projects promoting the rule of law, freedom of the press, or workers rights. There are many worthwhile projects that are being undertaken in China today, and I and my colleagues would be happy to introduce them to you. However, I think a note of caution is necessary with respect to support from the U.S. to projects being carried out within China. This is a very sensitive issue and there is a thin line between seeing support for such projects because they are meant to help China and seeing support for such projects because they are meant to prevent China from becoming strong. It is very easy for many Chinese people to misinterpret the intentions from abroad. Therefore, it is advisable to first make contacts with the liberal intellectuals in China who are more open-minded about aid and support from abroad.

Credibility Adv. – China Module – US Credibility K2

Impossible to make progress with China when we’re seen as hypocritical on human rights issues

Reuters 2010 (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62B0WQ20100312, date accessed: 6/26/2010) AJK
In its annual survey of human rights in 194 countries issued on Thursday, the U.S. State Department criticized China, along with Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea and Russia. China's State Council Information Office, or cabinet spokesman's office, issued its own annual assessment of the United States' human rights record in response, and this year it dwelt on America's economic woes. "The United States not only has a terrible domestic human rights record, it is also the main source of many human rights disasters worldwide," the Chinese report said, according to the official Xinhua news agency. "Especially a time when the world is suffering serious human rights disasters caused by the global financial crisis sparked by the U.S. sub-prime crisis, the U.S. government has ignored its own grave human rights problems and reveled in accusing other countries." Washington has long criticized of China on human rights, and the subject has added to recent tensions with Beijing, which has also pushed back over arms sales to Taiwan and President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since their split in 1949 amid civil war, and reviles the Dalai Lama as a "separatist" for seeking self-rule for his Himalayan homeland. PELOSI TIBET REMARKS CONDEMNED China's Foreign Ministry, in a separate statement, also condemned U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi for comments earlier this week honoring "the many brave Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom." "We advise the relevant U.S. congresswoman to respect the facts, abandon her prejudices and stop using the Tibet issue to interfere in China's internal affairs," spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement on the ministry's website (www.fmprc.gov.cn). China's Internet controls have also thrust Beijing into a dispute with search engine giant Google, which has said it may shut down its Chinese-language Google.cn portal and draw back from the Chinese market out of concerns over censorship and a hacking attack from within the country. China has intensified restrictions on the Internet, imposed tight control over people seen as threats to Communist Party rule, and increased repression of Uighurs after ethnic violence and riots in Xinjiang, the country's restive far-western region, said the State Department report. China's Communist Party authorities have shown little patience with Western criticisms of Beijing's punishment of political dissidents and protesters. Late last year, U.S. officials decried the sentencing of prominent Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in jail on charges of "inciting subversion." The latest Chinese counter-blast to U.S. criticisms said Washington should concentrate on "improving its own human rights."
Double standards on things like torture make it impossible to pressure China

Hiram 2010 (http://hiram1555.com/2010/03/14/russia-china-holds-u-s-hypocritical-human-rights-report-up-to-the-mirror-of-u-s-actions/ , date accessed: 6/26/2010) AJK

“The United States not only has a terrible domestic human rights record, it is also the main source of many human rights disasters worldwide: China. March 12, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) – China and Russia hold the mirror in front of the United States to see its own image on human rights issues just exactly how the rest of the world sees it. The ugly image being reflected back of the US’ human rights records was described in a Chinese report published by Xinhua, today. The report pointed at widespread human rights abuses committed by the US over the past several years. ‘At a time when the world is suffering a serious human rights disaster caused by the US subprime crisis-induced global financial crisis, the US government still ignores its own serious human rights problems but revels in accusing other countries. It is really a pity,’ the report said. China also criticized Washington over wiretapping ordinary citizens thereby infringing on their civil rights. ‘The United States not only has a terrible domestic human rights record, it is also the main source of many human rights disasters worldwide,’ the report said. The world remembers when a massive earthquake hit the island of Haiti last January. At the time when most of the world was concentrating on providing humanitarian relieves the US was trying to show off military power to quake stricken Haitians by sending thousands of fully armed troops into the region. The Chinese report lashed out at US’ inhumane treatment of its own citizens saying that most US citizens were threatened by “widespread violent crimes”, while abuses of power were common among law enforcement officials. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry strongly criticized US’ 2009 report on human rights. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the report ignores US’ own record. ‘Everything is very traditional and even ritual in the report: approaches, theses, conclusions and informants. In this respect, we haven’t noticed much difference despite the ‘reset’ in our relations declared by today’s administration,’ the ministry said as reported by Ria Novosti.  ‘It is no secret to anyone that this opus is aimed primarily at solving the political issues of the U.S. establishment,’ it added. The ministry’s report said that it was interesting to know how the US State Department which issues this annual report would indeed comment on all the tortures, cruel and inhumane treatment of people in the US itself. In its annual report on Human Rights the US State Department commented on what it called human rights abuses by a number of countries including Russia and China.”