Chinahumanrights.org: The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a huge test for the whole world, but also highlights different countries’ approaches to handling the virus and their relentless efforts to protect human rights. Amid the pandemic, many people began to review “human rights” and rethink what human rights protection aims for? What can we do to protect human rights in the real sense? Today, we are honored to invite Mr. Yang Bochao from the Institute for Human Rights Studies at the China University of Political Science and Law. He will share his thoughts on human rights protection in the context of the pandemic. Welcome, Professor Yang.

 

Yang Bochao: Hello, Qi Yu!

 

Chinahumanrights.org: After the outbreak of COVID-19, what changes do you think have taken place in people’s understanding of human rights?

 

Yang Bochao: That is a good question. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the international community has begun to rethink the issue of human rights protection which is no longer an abstract topic, but an issue that concerns everybody.

 

After the outbreak, many countries and human rights scholars came to realize that the right to life is actually an issue that should be given top priority during the pandemic. Of course, if you look into the origins of international human rights laws and consider some extremely important documents on human rights, you will find evidence of the protection of the right to life. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights approved in 1948, stipulates that everyone has the right to life, freedom, and personal security. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted in 1966, includes a clause on the right to life in Article 6.In some regional human rights conventions, for example, the well-known European Convention on Human Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and some other conventions, similar provisions on the right to life are also set out. We can also refer to the General Comment No. 14 issued by the UN Human Rights Committee, which points out that “Health is a fundamental human right indispensable for the exercise of other human rights.”Such a right is not allowed to be diminished even in a social emergency. So, the right to life should be the prerequisite and foundation for all other human rights.

 

In theory, we consider life to be priceless because everyone has only one chance to live, and everyone’s life is equally important. If a person loses his life, what could his other rights depend on? We believe that some anti-pandemic measures taken to protect the rights to life and health may, to some extent, undermine other human rights or other measures aimed at realizing public interests. In the event of a conflict between the life and health of the collective and the claims of individuals, it is actually more important that the government should prioritize the rights to life and health in order to protect human rights as much as possible.

 

Now let’s get back to the situation in China and consider a series of measures including the lockdown of a city with a population of tens of millions like Wuhan, the mobilization of medical staff on a large scale from across the country, and efforts to build makeshift hospitals for the treatment of patients with moderate symptoms. A whole-of-society approach has been taken, calling on the people to wear masks, practice social distancing, stay home, and strengthen community control. Well, these measures have indeed proven to be highly effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. I think our ultimate goal is to guarantee people’s rights to life and health to the greatest extent and protect human rights as much as possible.

 

Chinahumanrights.org: Whether it is in the pandemic period or the current post-pandemic era, China has vividly demonstrated to the whole world its unwavering efforts to protect human rights and has provided the world with a Chinese “answer sheet” so that others can learn from our experience. Could you shed some light on  this Chinese “answer sheet”?

 

Yang Bochao: After the outbreak, the Chinese government took extensive measures to curb it. With tremendous courage, it announced a city-wide lockdown that affected a population of tens of millions of people. Such a decision requires immense courage and a considerable sense of responsibility. A series of measures such as requiring everyone to wear masks, locking down cities and restricting travel have effectively reduced the number of infections and contained the spread of the virus. It is very important that we seek truth from facts, respect science, and fight the pandemic based on science and according to law. Chinese people are very united. People nationwide are of one mind and join hands to brave the difficulties. We have seen how people responded to the national call with the same attitude. I participated in some voluntary activities. My university organized several charitable donation events for Wuhan and other regions affected by the virus.

 

In its efforts to prevent and control the pandemic worldwide, China has proposed to establish a global community of health for all. We have actively shared our knowledge and experience with the international community and cooperated with international institutions like the United Nations, and the World Health Organization in particular. We are trying our best to provide materials and resources to other countries. The Chinese government sent several medical teams of experienced experts to assist other countries in their fight against the pandemic as soon as it had successfully controlled the outbreak at home. China’s actions have vividly illustrated the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and have demonstrated that it is a responsible major country.

 

Chinahumanrights.org: Currently, there are concerns about the research and development of the vaccine. There are also some skeptical voices from overseas, doubting the motives of China pushing forward the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines when it has already controlled the pandemic? What do you think of this?

 

Yang Bochao: I think there is always bias towards China in the West. Recently, we have heard quite a lot biased accounts of China, some from foreign politicians. I think this is mostly the result of the influence of the Cold War and Cold War mentality on the West. Actually, the West holds a relatively contradictory attitude towards China. On the one hand, they criticize China and make groundless accusations. On the other hand, some sensible politicians, and some scholars in the West, are also aware of China’s important role in the world because of its development.

 

You just mentioned that China is proactively developing vaccines. It is China’s way of fulfilling its international commitments and promoting international cooperation. China once said at the World Health Assembly that the research and the development of vaccines serve the global public interest. So, in the past few months, the number of countries China has promised to share its vaccines with has increased. China has promised to provide vaccines to countries such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos as well as some countries in Africa and Latin America. I think what China promises to do is also in line with the spirit of international cooperation advocated by the UN Charter and international human rights conventions.

 

Amid COVID-19, China has played an excellent role from protecting people’s rights to life and health to supporting the research and development of vaccines. China’s people-oriented anti-pandemic policies are effective. Comparing China’s total population with the number of COVID-19 infections, many politicians in the West think it is almost “incredible” for China to achieve such a result or maintain its current infection rate. Some believe that these results are actually unacceptable. Because of this prejudice, many Western countries shift blames on China, and label China as the origin of the virus. In some cases, even the “China threat” theory resurfaced. I think this happens because Western politicians try to deflect attention away from their ineffective handling of the pandemic. I think this is a shenanigan of using human rights to realize political goals.

 

Chinahumanrights.org: The pandemic has triggered massive demand for COVID-19 vaccines. Citibank claims that vaccines are crossed purchased between most of the developed countries, while many developing countries face a vaccine crisis because they are incapable of producing the vaccines or importing them from abroad. How to make COVID-19 vaccines benefit all countries has become a global concern. So, what is China’s attitude?

 

Yang Bochao: I remember that as early as May this year (2020), President Xi Jinping made a promise during a video conference of the World Health Assembly that China will make vaccines a global public product. In November 2020, President Xi emphasized again at a meeting of the G20 that China will try its best to make vaccines a global public good that people worldwide can afford. China has joined COVAX, the body co-led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. In addition, China has assisted in all areas of the vaccine R&D, production and distribution. A report pointed out that five COVID-19 vaccine candidates in China have entered Phase III of clinical trials, a step closer to large-scale production. It is reported that although Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are relatively low in cost, their safety is guaranteed. As far as I know, countries including Malaysia, Turkey, the Philippines, and Mexico have signed vaccine procurement agreements with China. Some countries have signed vaccine production agreements with China.

 

Speaking of vaccines, I think it is agreed that being healthy is people’s common wish. Maintaining global public safety is also the shared responsibility for all countries. Therefore, the outbreak of COVID-19 has urged all countries and various international organizations to review their public governance and reflect on the shortcomings. We must reform the public health governance system. Only through joint efforts and cooperation can each country win the fight against the virus.

 

China not only proposes to make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good, but actively donates to the World Health Organization to help developing countries improve their ability to cope with the pandemic, and reinforce their public health systems. This demonstrates China’s attitude and sense of responsibility as a responsible major country. It also demonstrates China’s wish to play an active role in global governance.

 

Chinahumanrights.org: Joint efforts and cooperation are the most powerful weapons in defeating the virus and doing so is an important way of guaranteeing human rights. To assist with the prevention and control of the pandemic, China has proposed building a global community of health for all. It has voluntarily shared information and experience with the international community, carried out multilateral international cooperation, fulfilled its international commitments, and spared no effort in making the vaccines an affordable global public good. It promotes the fair distribution of vaccines and encourages other competent countries to join and support COVAX. Through these practical steps to cooperate on a global scale, China has helped lay a strong foundation for the protection of human rights. 

 

Thank you for watching and see you in our next program!