Panel Scrutinizes Human Rights in China

In light of the increasing scrutiny over China’s human rights record, the Harvard College Human Rights Advocates hosted a panel discussion yesterday in Sever Hall that addressed the history of human rights in China, the current conflict in Tibet, and the perception of a Western bias against China.

The discussion reflected the diverse opinions about China’s human rights record that have surfaced in light of this summer’s Olympics in Beijing. The panel featured Fairbank Center for East Asian Research associate Merle Goldman, Harvard Law School research associate Lobsang Sangay, Harvard economics graduate student Yue Tan “David” Tang, and Amnesty International advocacy director T. Kumar.

Tang was the lone supporter of China, citing China’s progress in human rights, including its work for minorities and women.

“China has done a lot of work in terms of improving human rights,” he said. “Formally, China has signed and ratified over 20 human rights treaties.”

Wang also argued against what he perceived as Western biases about China. He pointed to the resistance that China faces from the United Nations, exaggerated views of political oppression in China, and the Tibetan slant in recent media coverage.

“I was particularly happy to have a very articulate expression of the points of view of the Chinese government and the Chinese people,” Bhabha said following the event. “It’s very unusual to have that in this sort of forum, and I think it’s very beneficial.”

Although opinions were far from reaching a consensus, the panel did generally agree that political oppression in China is the biggest challenge for the country’s human rights.

“The only way in which I believe you’re going to see changes in these areas on the periphery of China is if you begin to change the Chinese political system,” Goldman said.

Kumar expanded on Goldman’s sentiments for change and emphasized the role that the Chinese people must also play.

“At the end of the day, human rights are about Chinese people and they are the ones who should take the lead,” Kumar said. “People from outside can do only so much.”

Co-president of the Harvard College Human Rights Advocates Quinnie Lin ‘09 said she was pleased with the event.

“We brought together this event in order to promote a variety of different views on the issue of human rights in China,” she said. “I think we were very successful in doing so.”

“I think it was a very high level of discussion on issues where people can genuinely disagree,” said moderator Jacqueline Bhabha, director of the University Committee on Human Rights Studies, following the event.