China and the World
in the 21st Century:
The Next Human Rights Revolution
translated
by Jessica Zheng
delivered 16
October 2013, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
As
long as a totalitarian regime still exists in human society, it means that
humanity has not passed the historical stage of barbarism. A totalitarian regime
is a product of the evil potential in human nature, and the greatest obstacle in
humanity’s march toward justice and civilization.
A common manifestation of totalitarianism is to spare no barbaric means to harm
people, hinder people’s development and progress, and even threaten humanity’s
culture, civilization, and universal values for the sake of one’s own personal
interests. Therefore, in the globalized world in which we live today, if one
thinks that the existence of a totalitarian system is the private matter of some
other country and ought to be resolved by the people of that country, one cannot
be more wrong. This is not a view that shows wisdom and foresight.
Technological advances have made the world ever smaller. The interrelations
between nations have become closer. Intercontinental missiles can fly around the
globe, and nuclear weapons could destroy humanity several times over. A click of
the computer keyboard by a hacker from China’s cyber espionage unit 61398 in
Shanghai will trigger a response from the Pentagon in the United States. After
some Chinese people protested in front of the United Nations in Manhattan, their
family members in China were “invited to drink tea” and threatened by the secret
police.
When dealing with a government practicing violence and deception, if you don’t
try to influence it with your universal values, such as freedom, equality,
democracy, and constitutionalism, you are very likely to be affected by the
wickedness of this government. As a result of such insidious erosion, your heart
becomes distorted, and you start to set limits for yourself and give up your
principles. It is evident that the humanitarian and human rights issues that
happen in any part of the world will invade and become the content of our lives,
and may even directly affect our lives.
In an age of information explosion, it is impossible for you, me, or anyone else
to stay away from the world. If someone is convicted for defending human dignity
and universal values, every one of us has inescapable responsibilities.
