Human rights in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are under increased threat. The PRC government ignores international representations. This begs the question: should Australia even attempt to intervene? What do we risk by doing so? The easy course would be to do the minimum and restrict our representations to cases where Australian citizens and interests are directly involved. This author argues that Australia’s approach to human rights should be recalibrated.

A repost from China Matters, 2019.

Despite possible repercussions for other aspects of our vital bilateral relationship, Australia should take a stand and declare to the PRC and other countries that the ideals of human rights are central to our cultural identity. If one takes a longer historical perspective, it is not unreasonable to hope that this and other recommended actions may ultimately contribute to Beijing’s rights policies being modified.

Human rights are universal and central to Australia’s democratic system. They are not limited by national boundaries. National governments committed to upholding them have a duty to call out abuses wherever they occur. If speaking out threatens bilateral relations or trade, parts of government and businesses may be concerned, but the final decision on whether to confront abuses cannot be in doubt. The issue is not whether to take action, but how to do so with the best effect.

Human rights issues in the PRC are inherently controversial. Beijing’s official position is that the PRC is not subject to international rights standards but upholds “human rights with Chinese characteristics”. Beijing maintains that criticism by others contravenes a basic principle of international relations, that is, non-interference in another country’s internal affairs.

World attention is now focused on the detention and “re-education” of ethnic Muslims, mainly Uighurs, in western Xinjiang. Hundreds of thousands have been detained and the practice of Islam is largely proscribed. Elsewhere in the PRC, house churches have been closed. Tibetan and other ethnic languages and cultures are being suppressed. The quasi-religious spiritual practice of Falun Gong is banned. Activists and lawyers have been detained and threatened. Domestic lobby groups for human rights have been suppressed or severely restricted. Academics and journalists are advised not to investigate infringements of international standards such as labour rights. Hong Kong’s independence under “One Country, Two Systems” is under threat, including its human rights standards, and this inevitably affects the large Australian community there.

Two Canadian citizens were arbitrarily detained in December 2018. Another Canadian has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking. These actions are no doubt in retaliation for the arrest and extradition of the Chief Financial Officer of the telecommunications company Huawei, which occurred on Canadian soil. Earlier this year, Chinese Australian author and blogger Yang Hengjun was detained in the PRC and accused of endangering state security, or possibly of espionage, which might render him liable for the death penalty.

The Australian government’s public position on human rights in the PRC has been reactive and inconsistent. Canberra prefers a........

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