Congressmen: Keep to Concern on Human Rights in China
(Dec. 20, 2003)On October 21, 2003, United States Representative Frank Wolf met Chinese dissident Fang Jue in his congressional office in Washington, D.C. Congressman Wolf is the co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, a bipartisan organization of nearly 200 House members. He is also a member of the Congressional--Executive Commission on China. For many years, he has been committed to improving the conditions of human rights in China.
(boxun.com)
Thoughts by Fang Jue:
In the second half of 2003, the U.S. Congress and Administration have increasingly criticized the record of human rights in China. This is a welcome step. During the first six months of the year, the America had half-expectantly waited for China's new leaders to signal progress improve in their human rights' record, impel political reform in China.
Contrary to the hopeful expectation, however, in their first six months in power, the new "Fourth Generation" of leaders has not taken any steps to improve human rights or to guarantee political reform. Therefore, the American people can not relax their resolve to improve the human rights' of the Chinese people.
In light of this, Fang Jue commented to Congressman Wolf that the annual report published by Congressional--Executive Commission on China this October was much better than the milder report published last year. Although the human rights record was not good last year, the 2002 report was overly moderate in its criticism. At the time the report was published last October, Fang Jue, just out of prison, critiqued the 2002 report. His written review was sent to select congressmen, including Congressman Wolf. The 2003 report clearly points out that the overall human rights condition in China has not been improving. This is an evaluation that concurs with the facts.
Thoughts by Congressman Wolf:
Congressman Wolf asked a question about should America introduce a resolution criticizing China next spring at the annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights? Fang Jue affirmed they should. The reason America abandoned their resolution this year was that the Chinese government had promised to improve its human rights record. In the past year, however, human rights' conditions have not improved -- on the contrary, they have actually deteriorated.
The international community, says Fang, must not give up an opportunity to press for the betterment of human rights in China. Introducing a resolution primarily shows concern for the conditions of human rights in China; fighting for its passage is necessarily an extension of its introduction. It is understandable that because a majority of the members of the UN Commission on Human Rights come from countries with suspect human rights themselves, it would be difficult to pass an American resolution criticizing China.
Congressman Wolf invited Fang to speculate about China's political future in the next few years. Fang thought that within the ten years or so that the Fourth Generation rules China, that although the economy would continue to grow, real democracy is not likely to make any actual progress. The political interests of the new leaders would prohibit them from promoting substantial democratic reform. Therefore, international pressure is still very necessary to encourage real political change in China.
Congressman Wolf asked Fang how America could effectively promote progress toward real political change in China. Fang replied that there are two most important and effective approaches. One would be to urge China to implement widespread, free and direct elections at all governmental levels; the other method would be to powerfully support the opposition both inside China and out. These would propel China gradually toward forming healthy democratic forces.
Another Meeting
On October 17, 2003, U.S. Representative Michael Pence also met Fang Jue in his office. Congressman Pence is a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and House International Relations Committee.
Congressman Pence carefully listened to Fang Jue's idea about the conditions of human rights in China, as well as China's political reform and foreign policy. Fang Jue emphasized that if the American government and politicians place an inordinate amount of hope that the new leaders of China will begin the political reform process on their own, America's best chances to influence the regime will likely go by the wayside.
Fang stressed that China's new leaders will not substantially change their repressive political system nor their foreign policy measures against democratic countries that would seek to influence China -- unless America actively promotes democratic opposition both within China and among the "overseas Chinese." When the Communist one-party system can not effectively manage, China might not have powerful enough, competent democratic forces to control the country. Such lack of democratic opposition is not good for the fundamental transformation of China.
Fang Jue expressed a hope that the American government and politicians would act with foresight when dealing with China. Congressman Pence also expressed that many American politicians, including him, firmly support democratic change in China and are willing to help China’s democratic activists.
Congressman Frank Wolf and Michael Pence also exchanged opinions with Fang Jue about the Taiwan issue, the Permanent Normal Trading Relations (PNTR) for China, and the RMB's exchange rate, etc.
• (End)
(boxun.com)
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