Op-Ed Contributors

US' deceit on human rights

By Zhang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-18 07:48

Editor's note: Before US points its finger at others, it should make a self-reflection on its own actions and assume its responsibility to protect human rights.

Despite claims that it is the bastion of human rights, America should reflect on its own abuses and take measures to stop them

The United States Department of State, the federal office responsible for international relations, drew a dismal picture of human rights conditions worldwide in its annual survey of 194 countries and regions released last Thursday.

In so doing, the US, the self-proclaimed guardian of human rights, has attempted to present the most authoritative and detailed document on the state of human rights around the world. But the failure of the lengthy document to mention human rights conditions in the US has added to the growing suspicion of Washington's real motives behind the survey.

The main purpose of the US' annual report, according to Russia's Foreign Ministry in a Reuters story, was to "solve the internal political problems of the American establishment". Russian officials went on to say that the US was "using human rights as a tool to forward quite concrete, material foreign policy interests".

In his inaugural address on April 30, 1789, George Washington, one of the founding fathers of the US, promised that "the foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens and command the respect of the world". At a broadcast speech on Sept 2, 1945, when Japan announced its surrender in World War II, the then US President Harry Truman also reiterated the US' commitment to working together with other countries to build a new global community in which all members can enjoy peace, friendship and cooperation.

However, the US has discarded these principles. To establish its influence around the world, the Truman administration rushed into the Cold War with the Soviet Union shortly after World War II. It also adopted a containment policy toward other Socialist nations. In complete disregard of his "peace, friendship and cooperation" commitments, the Truman administration adopted a very hostile approach toward the newly founded People's Republic of China, including military encirclement, political isolation and economic blockades.

Due to its lack of investigations or on-the-scene surveys of targets, the US State Department's human rights report, mainly based on media coverage, embassy documents and subjective conjectures, is filled with groundless criticisms over other countries. Without any sense of respect for other nations, the report is not expected to win their admiration and respect. I hope that the US, out of its self-proclaimed commitment to promote and protect human rights worldwide, makes more contributions to peace, security and stability.

As the world's sole superpower, the US could have contributed greatly to the cause of human rights after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948. After it recognized the declaration, Washington should have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the UN Covenant on the Rights of the Children to show its sincerity in maintaining human dignity. Since it approved the UN standards on human rights, the US government should have assumed its responsibilities and taken concrete steps toward promoting and protecting human rights.

In the US, more must be done to eliminate racial discrimination, the gap between the rich and poor and other abuses of human rights. Internationally, Washington needs to reflect more on the human casualties and disasters in the unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how these two wars have affected the international community. It must also re-evaluate its admitted abuse of prisoners in military camps.

The history of human development shows that a country's prosperity and civilization is built on self-reliance and arduous work. Foreign criticism and sanctions fail to push a country forward in improving domestic human rights conditions. No single country is qualified to be the savior of other countries, especially on human rights.

The US is accustomed to making an issue of China's human rights conditions. Despite Washington's finger pointing, China still looks upon the US with tolerance and Chinese officials have repeatedly stressed the need for dialogue to solve bilateral issues.

In his address to Harvard University students during a visit to the US in November 1997, former President Jiang Zemin pointed out that cooperation between people of both countries will significantly influence the world. He added that the two countries should learn to understand each other, find common ground to solve their disputes and boost bilateral cooperation.

China has been firm in its stance that it is opposed to foreign intervention into its human rights issues. It adheres to the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference. It is also China's stance that it welcomes any constructive criticisms from foreign countries over its human rights issues, but that it mainly depends on its own efforts to make progress on human rights cases.

Working to try to understand each other can help the two countries boost the cause of human rights around the world and at the same time boost bilateral cooperation.

The author is deputy director with the Research Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws, China University of Political Science and Law.

(China Daily 03/18/2010 page8)