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UNITED NATIONS — The Bush Administration, concurring with strong bi-partisan Congressional support, has decided to press for a United Nations resolution censuring communist China's human rights record. The U.S. will thus again back a resolution to be presented at the Human Rights Commission hearings in Geneva which shall underscore the continuing deterioration of human, political, and religious rights in the People's Republic of China.
As if to juxtapose the Bush initiative, the Canadian government literally just returned from what evoked a 18th century tribute pilgrimage to the Middle Kingdom in this case a latter day commercial mission to the Marxist Middle Kingdom led by Prime Minister Jean Chretien and nearly one thousand politicians and business leaders. Labeled "Team Canada," the mega- mission saw Chretien, nine of the ten Provincial Premiers, and scores of anxious business leaders visiting Mainland China for a nine day foray.
Canada's Prime Minister had the honesty not to ritually kowtow before Beijing's political class but to raise the issue of human rights and commercial business ethics with his hosts.
As Toronto's National Post reported, " PM Scolds China on Rights Abuses." Chretien told an audience at Shanghai's East China University of Politics and Law, "True friends are never shy about exchanging views on important issues. And so as a friend, I must tell you that Canadians are concerned when they hear reports from China of interference of the right of free expression...or that people are imprisoned and badly treated for observing their spiritual beliefs. These reports transgress our most deeply held convictions."
Later regarding the rule of law Prime Minister Chretien advised that the only way China can ensure foreign investment continues to flow into the country is by pursuing individual freedom with the same vigor as it has embraced elements of capitalism. He added "Shanghai is a magnet for foreign capital but investors prize security above all else. They must feel confident that their investment are safe and protected by fair and transparent rules."
Yet the sheer magnitude of the Team Canada visit let the Chinese know that its ultimately money and not morality which moves the bottom line for Ottawa. Canadian companies duly profited from the experience to the tune of $3.5 billion in contracts.
Classically Western governments are quick to chastize China for abysmal human and political transgressions only before those same governments usually then are among the first to cut commercial deals with Beijing. The contradiction is clear to China's Marxist Mandarins that when in doubt, trade trumps rights.
Now there's strong bi-partisan Congressional pressures on President George W. Bush to "take the lead," in mounting the international charge in the rights committee against the PRC. Yet the reality remains that the annual debate has met with stiff opposition from China's allies and increasingly ambivalence from the Western Europeans.
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice asserted on CNN, "I think you will not see any diminution for human rights in China. In fact, I think you'll see a renewed emphasis on it."
Though critics are quick to point out that even if such resolution were to pass, it would simply be ignored by an emboldened and spiteful PRC. More likely than not the resolution will not even go to a formal vote thus exposing the weakness of the "united front" against Beijing.
This may be true, but mises the point.
While a UN resolution will hardly change the PRC's central dogma, it does let the Marxist Mandarins know that they are being watched, monitored, and held accountable. In other words, the Great Wall does not shadow their actions in cracking down on religious groups from Falun Gung, to the bitterly persecuted Catholic Church, Buddhists in Tibet, or against Moslems in western China. Likewise it hampers Beijing for being able to build support for bullying Taiwan both diplomatically and militarily.
To be sure the U.S. sponsored resolution will be joined by other righteous nations and will be silently supported by others. Given the context and the makeup of the UN Commission, China will smugly ride the rhetorical wave of criticism. Yet to be blunt, if America ceases speaking about rights in places like China, how many other countries will have the grit to take the lead in doing so?
John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.
