Letters | Why Hong Kong may not warm to ‘human rights with Chinese characteristics’
- Beijing’s argument for exceptionalism in human rights ignores the reality of life for most mainland Chinese, and holds them hostage to an ideal of the greater good
- Western models may also be flawed, but are embraced by most nations around the world
If advancements in economic and social rights must come before any civil and political rights, how are citizens supposed to know that the nation has arrived at the magical point where people stop being servants to the state, working solely for the good of society?
Under “human rights with Chinese characteristics”, it seems the state can keep moving the goalposts so the endgame never kicks in, so that Chinese citizens are virtually slaves, forced to make sacrifices for the greater good, forever denied individual civil and political freedoms.
Of course, Chinese citizens supposedly loyal to state and society are not slaves at all! Many Chinese are entrepreneurs and taxpayers. Others go about building financial wealth through crime and corruption, avoiding the state’s attention in ways similar to those in the liberal West.
Citizens of China have a life, but it’s not life with the trappings people in the West embrace, like religious freedom, a strong legal and judicial system, or the right to criticise politicians and government.
Clearly the Hong Kong government and that of China must fulfil international obligations
The frustrations and sacrifices Westerners experience are not the same as the Chinese do, but is the ultimate goal of governance any different?