Global Q&A: ‘Do you think in dealing with China, your government should treat trade and human rights together, or as separate issues?’

Rikard Eriksson, Gothenburg, Sweden. The Epoch Times

Now is an opportune time to pressure China for better human rights during trade deals, was a common response when Epoch Times reporters from Sweden to Peru asked locals:

Gothenburg, Sweden Rikard Eriksson, 33, Civil Engineer China is on the rise, but it is still dependent on the rest of the world. We should make demands on China while we still can, because as it grows stronger, it will be less likely to listen to us or change. China’s human rights record is poor—the way it persecutes minorities. There are a lot of problems so I think both issues should be treated together. If we want China to change, now is the time.

Dubai, Arab United Emirates Daniel Adkins, 43, Associate Professor When dealing with China I think that the government of most countries would do well to treat trade and human rights separately for two main reasons; human rights need to be focused on individually and not used as a bargaining chip. If a country is forced into absorbing certain human rights as a condition of trade, it’s not genuine and as soon as it’s no longer to their trade advantage they will stop so it’s a short-term gain and a long-term loss. On the trade side, it’s important to go ahead and establish trade because as people become more economically successful, they become more demanding of human rights.

Bucharest, Romania Aurelian Cretu 52, Engineer Ideally they should be treated together, not as separate issues, but I doubt this is happening. I think that the relations with China should be put under the condition of respecting human rights. I don’t think that a market economy can exist without human rights.

Sofia, Bulgaria Yordanka Georgieva, 31, Telecom Engineer I think governments should not treat differently the human rights of Chinese and other people. In terms of commercial relations, China is a big market and producer, and when any country imports its produce, it has to impose quantity control based on its standards. In terms of human rights in China: during my stay in China, I noticed that Chinese people are severely restricted by the government from traveling abroad: both for work and for other purposes.

Maroochydore, Australia Ron Frasa, 85, Retired Real Estate Agent I consider that they have to be separate issues. We’ve created a sleeping giant with China. We’re trading with her, and it’s going to become greater and greater, and I’m afraid at some stage we’ve got to separate the issues. It’s very difficult to tell another country how they should run their country. Like you’ve got Arab countries where women have to wear veils, and we see it as wrong. And yet a lot of the women think it is right because they feel more chaste in wearing a veil. … We should always be kindly and friendly to each other. We should always treat each other with respect.

Lima, Peru Victor Zamudio, 32, Graphic Designer I think we should treat them together; they should not negotiate with countries at the expense of the exploitation of their own people. We know that the politicians’ intention is not to change; always the people protest and governments always want to continue to exercise power. I also think that the outside world is a reflection of our interior, but without this expression we cannot seek our improvement.

Edmonton, Canada Dick Brunner, Manufacturing Agent I think they should both be considered. I think human rights is also part of the equation. China has a huge population, trade is very important, but the child labor and the human rights also have to be part of that equation. Do you really want to be dealing with that? Some people are like slaves. They work long, hard hours for basically substandard wages. They are basically owned [by the factory owners]. It’s probably a better way of life than fending for themselves, but that doesn’t make it right. It won’t change if we don’t stand against it.

Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. Oscar Martinez, 34, Digital Producer I think they should be treated separately. They are two different subjects.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Carlos Eduardo Leal de Castro Nunes, 50, Federal Prosecutor Separately. Despite the fact that the main goal of human rights is the protection of every human being, such rights must be interpreted according to the characteristics of each nation, respecting those nations’ cultures. Otherwise, a universal moral code, different from the local reality, will be imposed. On the other hand, commerce is an activity which aims for profit. Commerce shall not be confused with ideology.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Do you believe you are doing what you are supposed to be doing?”