Keywords: Chinese human rights · concept of human rights · international communication

 

Looking back at the development process of human rights in the new era in China, respecting and protecting human rights have become a significant part of governing the country. China has achieved historical progress in human rights, forming a profound human rights concept in the new era based on the significant improvement of human rights protection. Meanwhile, with the enhancement of international communication capabilities, China’s human rights concept is increasingly recognized and accepted by the international community, gradually receiving positive public opinion and contributing Chinese wisdom to the development of international human rights. At present, China has embarked on a new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance toward the Second Centenary Goal. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasized the need to “follow a Chinese path of human rights development, actively participate in global human rights governance, and promote all-around advancement of human rights.”¹ To better contribute Chinese wisdom to addressing the deficit in global human rights governance and promoting the comprehensive development of world human rights, we should conduct a comprehensive study on the significance and methods of international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era, as it holds immense value.

 

 

The Chinese concept of human rights, a theory, and perspective about the fundamental values of human rights, is the standard China follows in dealing with human rights issues and the basis for establishing and perfecting the social systems involved in human rights. In our new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance toward the Second Centenary Goal, promoting the development of human rights becomes increasingly crucial and pressing. Promoting the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era has a dual significance for China and the international community.

 

First, the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is a refutation and response to some Western countries’ stigmatization of China’s human rights situation. Since its establishment, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people through several generations of hard struggle, enabling the Chinese nation to achieve a great leap from standing up and becoming affluent to becoming strong. It has solved the major problems of “being bullied” and “being hungry,” but the problem of “being stigmatized” has not yet been fundamentally resolved.² Some Western countries make up various “China threat theories,” denying China’s achievements in economic development and social governance, especially exaggerating human rights issues. They not only rely on international communication networks attached to the hegemony of countries such as the US and the UK but also arbitrarily interfere in China’s internal affairs with groundless “charges” and unreasonable “sanctions” against China under the banners of “universal human rights” and “human rights above sovereignty.” These malicious acts not only obstruct China’s development process in certain affairs but also contribute to stigmatizing China in the international arena of public opinion on human rights, portraying China as a domineering country that “disregards human rights” and “infringes on human rights at will.” The stigmatized image of China undermines the trust of some countries and their people in China, which is not conducive to friendly exchanges between countries and peoples in the economic, political, and cultural fields. Therefore, China must further commit to promoting the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era, clearly stating China’s position and explaining China’s views in the international arena of public opinion on human rights. We should disseminate the Chinese concept of human rights based on reason and facts, refuting the slander and attacks of some Western countries. At the same time, promoting the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era helps the international community to recognize the historicity and concreteness of the human rights concept. It helps to realize the substantial differences between the Chinese and Western concepts of human rights and encourages the international community to take the Chinese concept of human rights seriously while acknowledging these differences. This can lead to a better understanding, cognition, and even acceptance of the Chinese concept of human rights.

 

Second, strengthening the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is an inherent requirement for the development of China’s human rights cause. The development of China’s human rights cause requires both domestic and international communication. In the international community, promoting the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is an obligation for the development of China’s human rights cause. The Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is the fundamental principle and core value of China’s human rights development, inherent in the path of China’s human rights development. It leads and shapes China’s human rights development, promoting the comprehensive development of human rights cause in China and the world. Therefore, as part of China’s outward-facing human rights development, the resolute promotion of the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is a requirement. It can also create a positive international public opinion environment for the development of China’s human rights cause, win understanding and support from other countries and their peoples, and help reduce and even avoid objective obstacles and groundless, subjective accusations in the international community. The concept of human rights profoundly affects the understanding and handling of human rights issues, thus, the type of human rights concept determines the development and practical actions of human rights. Therefore, reaching an understanding and consensus on the human rights concept as a basic value is a core requirement for the international community to handle certain human rights issues, and it is also fundamentally where China can obtain international public opinion support for adhering to its human rights development path. Currently, the Western concept of human rights still occupies a mainstream position in the international community and influences the overall direction of international human rights discourse. To a certain extent, it does not help and even stops us from building a positive international environment needed for the development of China’s human rights. Solving this problem fundamentally is an urgent need for China to adhere to its own human rights development path.

 

Last but not least, the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is a necessary choice for China as a responsible major country to actively participate in global human rights governance and promote the comprehensive development of the human rights cause. “Based on our decades of exploration and practice since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, especially since the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, as well as the breakthroughs made in theory and practice since the 18th National Congress, we have succeeded in advancing and expanding Chinese modernization ³ and formed a Chinese human rights development path that conforms to China’s national conditions and follows the trend of the times, forming the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era. This is a combination of Marxism’s human rights view with China’s specific reality and the Chinese excellent traditional culture. It is formed based on past successful experiences of respecting and safeguarding human rights and learning from the achievements of human civilization. It has a distinct Chinese background and is embodied in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s discourse on respecting and safeguarding human rights. Western and Chinese concepts of human rights originate from different intellectual traditions and are abstractly formed in different modernization practices. Their core differences are reflected in the understanding of the relationship between individuals and the community, or the understanding of the relationship between public and private. The Western concept of human rights is rooted in the intellectual tradition of the binary opposition between individuals and the community. “Rights” and “human rights” are viewed as boundaries and shields for individuals to confront state power, pitting individuals against the state and rights against power. The ideological basis of the Chinese concept of human rights is “the world is for all” and harmonious coexistence. The core concept is people-centered, emphasizing that the socialist state is a solid guarantee for the interests of the people, and power comes from the people, is used for the people, and guarantees the rights and interests of the vast majority of the people. Human rights are “to let everyone have the opportunity to develop themselves and contribute to society, to share the opportunity to have a wonderful life, and to share the opportunity for dreams to come true.”⁴ Currently, the Western concept of human rights, with individual absolute rights as the core, is powerless in the face of an increasingly challenging human rights issue worldwide. Some Western countries promote their human rights concepts around the world under the banners of “universal human rights” and “human rights above sovereignty” and interfere in other countries’ internal affairs in the name of human rights, leading to ethnic conflict, political polarization, and other issues spreading globally. As a result, the human rights issue becomes increasingly severe, and the deficit in global human rights governance is increasingly prominent. The Chinese concept and theory of human rights, based on the country’s history and practical experience, enrich the inclusiveness of human rights.⁵ Against this backdrop, the international community is increasingly attaching importance to the Chinese concept of human rights and China’s human rights development path. Therefore, promoting the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is a necessary choice for China as a responsible major country to actively participate in global human rights governance and promote the comprehensive development of the world’s human rights cause. This is not only China’s responsibility, but also its mission.

 

 

A concept of fundamental values guides and shapes an individual’s value orientation and also profoundly influences the spirit of social life and the overall direction of its operations. Therefore, the goal of international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights is not only to promote cognitive understanding and acceptance among the peoples of various countries but also to drive the development and improvement of human rights governance in the international community. At present, China has achieved substantial results in its international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights. Through international human rights discourse, foreign human rights exchanges, etc., China has expanded the breadth and depth of communication among ordinary people, facilitated changes in the international human rights mechanism, and expanded its influence on global human rights governance.

 

 

First, the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is conducive to China’s struggle in the international arena of public opinion on human rights, effectively safeguarding China’s human rights stance. The international communication of the concept of human rights is multi-layered and multi-dimensional. Actively engaging in international human rights discourse is the most direct, timely, and effective way to spread the Chinese concept of human rights. The international arena of public opinion on human rights is the main battlefield for communicating the Chinese concept of human rights. In recent years, China has actively engaged in international human rights discourse, confronting human rights abuses from some Western countries, fighting back in a targeted manner, guiding public opinion on significant and sensitive human rights events, achieving favorable results, and strongly safeguarding China’s human rights stance. On multiple domestic and international platforms, China has resolutely countered false statements from some Western countries about China’s human rights situation. For instance, China has directly refuted false accusations by individuals with malicious intent during routine press conferences held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concisely and powerfully stating China’s stance. China has also established a communication matrix that relies on Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, CGTN, and foreign media to expound on China’s views and make China’s voice heard in a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, and multi-form way. At the same time, domestic experts, scholars, social organizations, etc., voice their opinions as much as possible in foreign media, international academic exchange meetings, and foreign exchange activities, resolutely fighting against malicious false statements. In this process, China has vigorously countered the absurd rhetoric of some Western countries stigmatizing China’s Xinjiang policies, such as “forced labor” and “genocide,” and exposed their malicious hype about Hong Kong’s “Anti-extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement” and the enactment of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In addition, by setting the agenda and other means, China has proactively strengthened its guidance of international public opinion. When it comes to major and sensitive domestic and international human rights events, the relevant departments take the initiative to speak out, seizing the moral high ground in human rights. For instance, the State Council Information Office proactively issued the white paper The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang, comprehensively and thoroughly explaining the human rights situation in Xinjiang, strongly rebutting the groundless accusations and stigmatization from some Western countries. Furthermore, the China Society for Human Rights Studies directly responded to human rights challenges and explained China’s stance by fully utilizing the panel discussions in major domestic events with high overseas attention and influence, such as the Beijing Forum on Human Rights and the South-South Human Rights Forum.

 

Second, China continues to advance its human rights exchanges abroad, both through dialogues and actual aid, to tell the story of human rights in China and highlight its human rights concept. The circle of friends is continuously expanding, allowing more people to understand China’s human rights development, thereby expanding the actual influence of the Chinese concept of human rights. In recent years, China has taken active steps in the field of human rights dialogue and exchange, conducting human rights dialogues with countries like the US, the UK, Germany, South Africa, and Malaysia, and promoting formal and informal consultations on human rights issues with topics such as the environment, the rights of women and children, the right to development, and digital human rights. These dialogues cover developed and developing countries and discuss human rights issues from various fields and dimensions, with significant results. In addition to intergovernmental communication, China has also actively established platforms for international human rights academic exchanges, encouraging communication among experts from different countries or regions. It has been actively promoting the development of flagship media for foreign human rights exchanges, improving foreign publicity mechanisms, and training high-level communication talents. China encourages non-governmental organizations and other civil society groups to go abroad, hold sharing sessions, and broaden the channels and influence of the Chinese concept of human rights. Through foreign aid to help other countries and peoples in poverty reduction and development, China has also helped others deeply understand the human rights ideas such as the people-centered approach, protecting and promoting human rights in development, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Over the years, China’s assistance in fields such as poverty reduction, education, health, infrastructure, and agricultural production to Asian and African developing countries has been significant. Major infrastructure projects, including agriculture, industry, transportation, energy, and information communications, have helped these countries meet their infrastructure needs, overcome development bottlenecks, and played an essential role in ensuring the realization of the people’s livelihood rights, earning high praise from the recipient governments and peoples. China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, initiated the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank, set up the Silk Road Fund and the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, established the Center for International Knowledge on Development (CIKD), and the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, among others efforts. These measures aim to support and help recipient countries enhance their ability for independent development, reduce poverty, improve people’s livelihoods, protect the environment, and create better conditions for the realization of the people’s right to development. They truly convey China’s genuine desire to safeguard human rights to the international community, showcasing a people-centered concept of human rights.

 

Last, China actively participates in human rights affairs in international organizations such as the UN, deeply engaging in the construction and improvement of international human rights mechanisms. Through supporting necessary reforms of human rights treaty bodies and participating in the creation of international human rights norms, China promotes the wide communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era. For one thing, China actively engages in global governance, presenting a series of initiatives at occasions like the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council, explicitly emphasizing concepts such as “the right to survival and the right to development as primary and basic human rights” and “promoting and protecting human rights in the context of development.” These efforts help drive and even lead the development of human rights in developing countries and the world as a whole. For example, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind has garnered enthusiastic responses internationally. It has been incorporated into multiple resolutions of institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council and accepted by an increasing number of countries. This concept has become a manifestation of China’s wisdom and solution for promoting the future development of the world, including global human rights governance. For another, considering its national conditions and the specific situations of treaty parties, China engages in constructive work and dialogue with relevant human rights treaty bodies and other treaty parties based on the international human rights situation. For instance, China provides numerous constructive suggestions for the improvement and amendment of significant human rights documents such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. China also actively recommends experts to serve as members of treaty bodies, with Chinese experts assuming positions in UN institutions such as the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee against Torture, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This allows for more direct participation in rulemaking and decision implementation. Furthermore, as one of the earliest countries to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference, China has been actively involved in and effectively promoting international climate negotiations, contributing to the ultimate adoption of the Paris Agreement. China also actively promotes the formulation and implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, integrating human rights issues such as poverty reduction, education, women and children, and persons with disabilities into the Chinese concept of human rights through rules and treaties.

 

 

While significant achievements have been made in the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era, certain problems requiring attention and resolution have also emerged. For one thing, the pattern of “strong West and weak East” in the communication of the Chinese concept of human rights has not fundamentally changed. Common problems include the lack of an established discourse system for foreign publicity, underdeveloped communication channels, and a shortage of communication talents. For another, there are special challenges in the foreign publicity of the Chinese concept of human rights. The sensitivity of the “human rights” issue and the complexity of the “concept” itself continue to deeply impact the scope and depth of international communication. In light of these general and specific factors, we face the following challenges in the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era.

 

First, the Western concept of human rights still holds mainstream status, while the Chinese concept of human rights has not received sufficient attention from the international community. As mentioned earlier, the concept of human rights involves theories and ideas concerning the fundamental value of human rights. The concept can stably and even stubbornly exist in the deep consciousness of individuals, guiding their value choices and judgments regarding human rights issues. Therefore, once people spontaneously or autonomously possess or choose a particular human rights concept, it becomes difficult to change. Influenced by the interaction between historical and present factors, the Western concept of human rights, accompanied by the expansion of capitalism on a global scale, has initially dominated the public space of the international community and gradually become the leading and mainstream concept of human rights. After the Enlightenment movements such as the Renaissance and the religious reform, Western thinkers and theorists gradually established a series of complex and comprehensive “rights” theories. Following the atrocities committed by the Nazis in the World War II, there was a need to reaffirm and uphold the value and dignity of human beings, and “human rights” became a popular discourse in the international community. The “rights” theories of Western countries formed the foundation for the development and communication of the concept of human rights, summarizing ideas such as “natural rights,” “all individuals are children of God,” “all individuals are born free and equal,” and “human rights above sovereignty.” These ideas gradually became known and accepted by many people. Subsequently, Western countries, led by the US, utilized international mechanisms such as the UN to shape the Western concept of human rights into a “universal” concept of human rights, establishing it as a standard for other countries. Furthermore, Western media control the international communication network, allowing continuous publicity of the Western concept of human rights to the world. This objectively resulted in people in various countries living in an “information cocoon” and a “simulated reality” constructed by the West, making it difficult to introduce the Chinese concept of human rights to these people, let alone influence or change their deep and ingrained values.

 

At the same time, there are certain exclusivity and differences when it comes to the concept of human rights, which profoundly affect the communication of the Chinese concept of human rights. Chinese and Western human rights concepts are rooted in their respective intellectual traditions and reflect the core ideas of these traditions. As mentioned earlier, the Western concept of human rights is based on the idea of the individual in opposition to the community, starting from the individual and emphasizing the limitation of state power and the protection of individual rights in an absolute sense. In contrast, the Chinese concept of human rights is based on the idea of harmony and coexistence, advocating the notion of “the world as a community” and rejecting the confrontation between individual rights and state power. These two concepts of human rights follow their own paths and naturally exhibit differences and divergences. Currently, there is no fundamental change in the reality where the Western concept of human rights remains dominant. The majority of people still hold this concept, which means that the Chinese concept of human rights, as an alternative to the Western concept, not only is being overlooked but also faces the risks and challenges of exclusion and disparagement.

 

Second, China has not yet established a comprehensive and independent foreign discourse system on human rights, and further in-depth discussions and explanations are needed for many complex theoretical and practical issues. Discourse is the summary and expression of ideas, and human rights discourse is the fundamental element and direct presentation in the communication of the concept of human rights. It can be said that “human rights discourse and human rights are mutually constructed.”⁶ Human rights discourse determines which human rights should be affirmed and advocated, and what forms of expression and practices of human rights are reasonable and just.”⁷ However, a concept involves highly abstract values that require detailed analysis and interpretation based on discourse. Only by allowing the audience to learn about the fundamental meaning of the concept can it be further understood and even accepted. Expressions such as “there is no best but only better in human rights protection,” “promoting human rights through development,” and “a community with a shared future for mankind” are spreading wider in the international community. However, overall, China has not yet formed a comprehensive and integrated foreign human rights discourse that bridges the gap between China and the West. This directly leads to the “marginalization” of China’s human rights discourse, which not only lacks explanatory power for human rights topics of other countries and the international community but also makes it difficult for China to have in-depth discussions and explanations on the complex realities and theoretical issues concerning the country’s human rights situation. As a result, China may find itself suffering a “loss of words” or becoming “speechless” even though it fully understands the human rights situation. In contrast, the Western human rights discourse dominates the narrative of human rights issues in the international arena of public opinion and significantly affects the understanding and judgment of some ordinary audiences on related issues. Therefore, China’s human rights image in the international community is mainly shaped by others rather than by itself. This is why some unscrupulous politicians and media in the West have the opportunity to interpret and criticize China at will, further stigmatizing China’s human rights situation and causing embarrassment as China “cannot clear its name and be heard even when it gives explanations” in the face of baseless accusations.

 

Currently, China faces two major problems in its foreign human rights discourse. China still lacks original concepts that integrate Chinese and foreign ideas in its foreign human rights discourse. At present, China’s human rights discourse mainly comes from two sources: Western-created concepts that are currently popular in the international community, and the direct conversion of China’s domestic human rights discourse into foreign human rights discourse. The former source revolves around the Western concept of human rights. Therefore, when using typical Western human rights discourse such as “natural rights,” “all individuals are born free and equal,” and “individual rights are sacred and inviolable,” we will inevitably put ourselves in the Western framework of values and rules, which does not fully showcase China’s values and the successful experiences of human rights development. This approach puts unnecessary burdens due to conformity and the risk of arbitrary interpretations. The latter source involves an approach that is not widely accepted by the international community as China’s “original” concepts, categories, and expressions in a different discourse system may not be compatible with the international community.⁸ Expressions such as “poverty alleviation,” “moderate prosperity,” “common prosperity,” and “joint contribution and shared benefits” demonstrate distinct Chinese characteristics, but make it difficult to achieve widespread dissemination. In addition, China’s foreign human rights discourse lacks solid support from Chinese human rights theories. The Chinese-style human rights theories are the way for us to present the foreign human rights discourse. To gain understanding and even recognition from the public in other countries, and to influence and guide international human rights opinions, we should do more than merely demonstrate the well-being of the Chinese people or publicize China’s foreign aid actions. There is also a need for a well-founded and in-depth explanation of sensitive human rights issues and to showcase the charm of our ideas. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a large amount of progress has been made in the study of Chinese human rights theories, but further development and improvement are still needed to provide a solid foundation for constructing a Chinese-style foreign human rights discourse.

 

Third, the international communication channels for promoting the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era are often hindered, and some content and forms of communication seem somewhat incompatible. For one thing, China’s international communication channels are frequently obstructed by the US and some other Western countries, which means that “borrowing a boat to go out to sea” is not satisfactory and “building a boat to go out to sea” is challenging; as there is a lack of platforms with broad international influence for continuous communication. At present, it is relatively difficult to use existing internationally renowned media to communicate the Chinese concept of human rights, or “borrowing a boat to go out to sea.” This is mainly because news agencies such as the US’s Associated Press and United Press International, the UK’s Reuters, and France’s Agence France-Presse, TV platforms such as BBC, CNN, ABC, and CBC, as well as social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat have built a massive publicitysystem led by the US and other Western developed countries, monopolizing the international communication network. The complex and intertwined international communication network is difficult to change and no breakthrough can be made within a short period. While China is committed to building its own communication platform, it can tactically use the existing network to communicate the concept of human rights. However, it should be noted that the above platforms are influenced by their respective countries’ political power, holding severe prejudices against China’s human rights situation and hyping sensitive human rights issues for attention-grabbing purposes, potentially distorting and misinterpreting China’s voice. In terms of actively building China’s foreign publicity media or “building a boat to go out to sea,” China is dedicated to creating its communication channels, making significant breakthroughs, but still faces problems and unable to achieve promising results. First, the content of independent media for foreign publicity is not much original. There is not much exclusive and independently collected content in reporting major human rights events involving China and international human rights situations; China’s voice is sometimes presented late or even not presented at all. Second, the number of followers and the amount of attention to information on media websites, apps, and social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are low; the number of posts, comments, opinions, and topic discussions is limited.

 

Furthermore, the abstract Chinese concept of human rights has not been well translated into easy-to-understand, “what others want to hear” and “what we want to tell” human rights stories, and the content and forms of communication need improvement. At present, China mainly communicate the Chinese concept of human rights to the international community through the release of white papers such as Seeking Happiness for People: 70 Years of Progress on Human Rights in China and The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang, production of documentaries such as Towards the Light and Abolishing Slavery, and writing of human rights-themed books. This can only achieve small-scale communication and cannot produce a wide-ranging impact. Specifically, the highly political nature of the content and the sensitivity of human rights issues make it difficult for some foreign audiences to appreciate its true value, and the content is often seen as a one-sided ideological publicity. Furthermore, the content mainly focuses on the achievements of China’s human rights cause, which can lead to a one-sided understanding. The communication forms tend to be formal and serious, attracting only a small number of people and not suitable for casual sharing, limiting the possibility of word-of-mouth transmission. Additionally, the narrative tends to focus on grand stories, lacking the portrayal of ordinary people’s daily lives and the telling of their human rights stories.

 

Fourth, in the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era, we face an unfavorable situation with a shortage of talent and a lack of connection and coordination among various communication forces. International communication is a skill that needs to be honed through specific practice and is a long-term undertaking. Moreover, the human rights issue is highly sensitive and complex, and it is the focus of international public opinion, making the international communication of human rights issues even more challenging. The concept of human rights involves high-level theories intrinsic to humans, with guiding roles and stable characteristics. Therefore, the international communication of the concept of human rights is an extremely difficult and sophisticated task, requiring well-trained and experienced professionals familiar with the theories. However, as General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “We should admit that we are novices in the mastery and use of international discourse, and we often follow what others say in many situations, even to the point of sacrificing our voice.”⁹ China respects and protects human rights in its political concepts and has always attached great importance to showcasing China’s human rights situation and communicating its human rights concept from a strategic perspective. However, there has been more domestic discussion and less international communication. China also lacks a systematic approach to training talent who are familiar with international rules and can tell China’s human rights stories.

 

At the same time, due to the lack of voice and coordination of the existing foreign human rights publicity, the effectiveness of the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era has been compromised to some extent, which is not conducive to influencing the direction of international public opinion on human rights and disseminating China’s human rights concept. When the US, the UK, and other Western countries fabricate false propositions about China’s human rights situation, they often start with core viewpoints determined by government decision-making departments,followed by politicians, designated spokespersons, and then a blanket communication campaign by influential Western mainstream media such as CNN and ABC. Last, prestigious research institutions and universities that serve the government and financial groups release research reports, creating a powerful wave of public opinion attacks in a short period. China, on the other hand, lacks coordinated and systematic approaches to changing public opinion like those in Western societies. In recent years, various government departments, think tanks, media, universities, enterprises, NGOs, and public figures in China have greatly improved their foreign publicity capabilities. They can comment on human rights issues related to China or independently publicize the Chinese concept of human rights. However, in some cases, there are still problems with scattered voices among various forces. To some extent, this weakens the power of China’s voice in the international community and makes it difficult to create extensive influence on public opinion.

 

It is worth noting that, at a deeper level of communication and interaction, there is still a “disconnection” between China’s human rights theory and practice, and communication between theorists and practitioners is not sufficient. Practitioners engaged in specific human rights work may not have the ability or opportunity to summarize human rights concepts, propositions, and other elements with communication value from their practical activities. Theorists, who have theoretical literacy and expressive abilities but lack practical experience, may be limited to the self-consistency of pure logical reasoning from concept to concept, without adequately reflecting the actual situation or refining truly explanatory, original Chinese human rights theories. This is detrimental to not only the further refinement, interpretation, and communication of the Chinese concept of human rights but also the establishment of a united force among human rights workers in different fields, working together to disseminate a convincing Chinese concept of human rights in the new era in the international community.

 

 

Looking back on the communication of the Chinese concept of human rights over the past decade, we can see that the international community has become more interested and understand more about the Chinese concept of human rights. However, as previously mentioned, the Chinese concept of human rights still occupies a marginal position in the international human rights arena and has not yet gained sufficient understanding and acceptance from the international community. As a result, the international dissemination of the concept faces many challenges, and the road ahead is long and arduous. Therefore, it is crucial to address the weaknesses in the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights, optimize communication channels, and enhance its international influence.

 

 

Adhering to the Chinese path of human rights development is necessary not only for China but also for the world. For China, this path is essential for promoting the comprehensive development of its human rights cause. Throughout the theoretical guidance and practical process of China’s modernization, China has embarked on a human rights development path that is in line with the times and suits its national conditions. What is suitable is the best. Adopting everything from abroad and adapting painfully to foreign practice at the expense of our benefits will lead to half-baked results or even failure. Currently, China has embarked on a new journey of comprehensively building a modernized, strong country and achieving its Second Centenary Goal. Considering both national and international conditions, we find it imperative to deeply understand the importance and urgency of doing well in human rights work, adhere to the Chinese path of human rights development, and promote the comprehensive and healthy development of human rights in the context of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

 

China’s human rights development path is also of great significance for promoting the development of human rights worldwide. As Japanese sinologist Yuzo Mizoguchi put forward the term “China as a method,” China presents an alternative to the Western path, a different kind of experience, and another possibility. “A world that embraces China as a method means a diverse world that integrates China and Europe as components.”¹⁰ On this basis, a higher level of world vision should be created on the principle of “relativized diversification.”¹¹ China’s human rights path is distinct from that of the West and we should not advocate the “only right path.” Instead, we should promote a human rights path that embraces a beautiful world of diversity and inclusiveness.

 

The Chinese concept of human rights serves as the basic value of the Chinese human rights path, guiding its development. To adhere to the Chinese path of human rights development, we must uphold the Chinese concept of human rights and firmly promote it. The international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights helps create a favorable international public opinion environment for the advancement of China’s human rights development path and win understanding and support from the international community. It also contributes to global human rights development, especially for developing countries. The human rights concept of China as the world’s largest developing country better reflects and represents the interests and aspirations of developing countries, helping more people struggling with poverty to safeguard their rights to survival and development.

 

 

The communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era requires us to actively engage in international human rights discourse, refute false accusations against China, develop a foreign human rights discourse system, refine the original human rights concepts that are compatible with both China and the world, build and improve a Chinese-style human rights discourse system, and tell good stories of China’s human rights.

 

Enhancing the ability to refute false accusations against China’s human rights issues by some Western politicians and media is a direct approach to promoting the communication of the Chinese concept of human rights. To win the battle in the international human rights discourse and gain extensive understanding and support from the international community, we need platforms and technical support to build a well-connected communication network, as well as talent support. We need opinion leaders to speak out firmly. Besides, we should strive to build flagship media outlets for China’s foreign publicity, support the creation of influential cross-border, cross-regional new media, and endeavor to break the monopoly of Western media empires led by the US and the UK. First, we need to increase funding for foreign publicity efforts. This is a large-scale project that requires substantial resources. In the past, China’s approach to foreign publicity was characterized by small but lasting investments,¹² which limited its development potential. Looking forward, we find it necessary to further increase concentrated support for the international communication industry in terms of funding and other resources. Second, we should further reform the institutional mechanisms and optimize the deployment of foreign publicity. Historically, government-led foreign publicity efforts have been dispersed among different institutions. With the rapid development of Internet technology and the further integration of media, China has begun to systematically consolidate its scattered resources in recent years, such as the establishment of the China Global Television Network (CGTN). This allows for effective consolidation and focus of foreign publicity resources, but it is still necessary to deepen reforms to fully mobilize all available resources. Third, we need to introduce and train journalists and hosts who are familiar with local cultural traditions and popular elements and select human rights topics and forms that local audiences are interested in and demand for reporting and promotion. Fourth, we should fully draw on the experience of successful media communication. In addition to learning from established media giants such as Time Warner and News Corporation, and developing controllable flagship media, it is also essential to deepen exchanges and cooperation with international communication media. “This includes exploring methods of media public diplomacy, making good use of media cooperation forums, and building international and regional media cooperation mechanisms.”¹³

 

Besides, it is necessary to gather and develop a group of influential opinion leaders in various fields in the international community. First, we can widely connect with friendly political figures, scholars, entrepreneurs, writers, athletes, and artists from other countries, encouraging them to voice their opinions on China’s real human rights situation through international mainstream media and important conferences and forums and to spread accurate information about China’s human rights status for objective understanding and evaluation of the Chinese concept of human rights. Second, it is essential to carefully discover and develop a group of “Chinese teams”, providing resources and platforms for the growth and development of Chinese opinion leaders who can speak on human rights issues. To some extent, launching a war on the international human rights discourse should not be the first choice in responding to the current situation. A concept is a high-level and fundamental value system, which should be accepted and shaped through multi-dimensional efforts in emotion, theory, and more. It is a profound and continuous process that demands persistence and long-term commitment. Persistently telling positive Chinese human rights stories to achieve a subtle influence is the fundamental path for us to enhance the international impact of the Chinese concept of human rights while constructing and perfecting China’s human rights discourse system is the prerequisite foundation for telling a good Chinese human rights story.General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized on various occasions that “Drawing on China’s rich experience of advancing human rights, we should formulate new concepts and develop systems of academic discipline, research and discourse.”¹⁴ The foreign human rights discourse system is a Chinese expression supported by China’s self-constructed human rights theory. “Behind discourse lies thought and the way. Do not tell stories for the sake of telling stories, but let the way run through the stories. Lead people into the way through fascinating methods and guide them to understand the way through gentle persuasion. We need to strengthen the construction of the foreign discourse system, use Chinese theory to explain Chinese experience, use Chinese practice to improve Chinese theory, and more vividly display Chinese thoughts and more firmly put forward Chinese propositions.”¹⁵

 

 

Human rights concepts reflect distinct interest appeals and audiences with common interest appeals are more likely to accept related human rights concepts in terms of emotion, theory, and other aspects. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately target the audience and strive to achieve the greatest communication effect with the least resources. At the same time, different audience groups should be treated differently to accurately implement policies and communicate with the most appropriate content and methods.

 

From the perspective of cultural tradition, people in the same cultural circle are more likely to understand each other’s beliefs and concepts. People in East Asia and Southeast Asia, which have long been influenced by Confucian culture, are more likely to understand the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era compared with those immersed in Christian and Islamic cultures. From the perspective of national development, developed countries in North America and Western Europe, represented by the US and the UK, have different interest appeals in global human rights governance compared with non-Western countries such as China and Singapore. The former often accuse and interfere in China’s internal affairs in the name of human rights, while the latter, due to their common historical memory of fighting against colonial aggression and striving for freedom and liberation, and being developing countries, are more likely to reach a consensus on human rights issues and have more common interest appeals. As a result, they are more likely to accept the Chinese concept of human rights at the emotional and cognitive levels. Considering both cultural tradition and national development, China should invest more communication resources in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, vigorously promote the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era and gain the firm support of the vast majority of developing countries. First, the government and other relevant departments should increase human rights exchanges with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, strengthen the interaction between governments and political parties, and carry out high-level dialogues in the field of human rights. Second, we should make full use of China’s media resources, expand media communication channels in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and discover firsthand human rights stories. Third, we need to leverage platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to increase economic and trade cooperation with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, urge Chinese enterprises to raise awareness of human rights concept communication, demonstrate China’s good image, and gain the support of local people. Fourth, we should promote the export of Chinese film and television works, books, and periodicals to increase understanding and recognition of China in Asia, Africa, and Latin America through diversified platforms. Finally, we need to develop a large number of international communication talents who are familiar with the customs, concepts, and other aspects of the Asian, African, and Latin American regions to serve the urgent need for enhancing China’s international discourse power.

 

From the perspective of the micro-level audience, the audience can be divided into governments, media, think tanks, universities, enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and the general public. Traditionally, international communication led by official and semi-official organizations has advocated impacting international society by impacting “influential people.” These influential people are usually traditional establishment elites, such as politicians, think tank researchers, experts, well-known media figures, and entrepreneurs. By establishing good relationships with them, we can change the direction of public opinion on human rights issues involving China. However, traditional establishment elites are often attached to governments and transnational capital and serve the interests of sovereign states and transnational capital. Their attitudes toward China are inconsistent and predominantly negative. Currently, the demands of ordinary people are increasingly becoming an essential factor affecting a country’s policy adjustments. Therefore, China must focus on international communication on human rights issues targeting the general public. The most important thing is to gain an advantage in cyberspace, actively participate in, and even lead the new round of communication technology revolution, strive for the upper hand in the Internet field, influence and shape cyberspace, and ensure the right to engage and even dominate the formulation of cyberspace rules.

 

 

International communication is a profound subject, and doing it well requires specialized talents who are well-versed in international rules and skilled in the art of communication. The international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era is more sensitive and complex and urgently needs a large number of professional talents. At the same time, it is essential to call on the overall consciousness of individuals and social organizations so that they will consciously assume the responsibility and obligation of foreign publicity of the human rights concept. On this basis, we need to coordinate the efforts of all parties, form a joint force for the foreign publicity of the human rights concept, and build a foreign human rights communication matrix.

 

For one thing, we need to focus on cultivating experts in the field of international human rights communication and develop a large number of “high-end human rights experts with solid theoretical background, excellent academic skills, familiarity with international rules, and the ability to tell China’s human rights stories.”¹⁶ To achieve this, we must improve the talent cultivation system and mechanism. First, optimize the disciplinary setup. In accordance with the relevant requirements in the Report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has vigorously supported human rights education and research. Human rights research centers and education bases have been successively established in 14 universities, including Guangzhou University, Nankai University, and the Renmin University of China. This effort has helped cultivate a large number of specialized human rights researchers. However, there is still room for improvement in international communication and cross-cultural communication skills. Talents with language and communication skills often focus on translation, broadcasting, and hosting, lacking a solid foundation in human rights theory. Therefore, it is essential to break down disciplinary barriers and cultivate interdisciplinary talents with comprehensive qualities. Second, emphasize both theory and practice. Schools should establish cooperative relationships with government agencies and enterprises directly engaged in international communication or with foreign-related business. In addition to completing theoretical studies, students also need to engage in practical work in relevant departments and enterprises, making this mechanism process-oriented and normalized. An “academic mentor + industry mentor” system can be adopted to enhance students’ comprehensive qualities in a targeted way. Third, integrate advantageous resources by organizing international conferences and forums in collaboration with international organizations such as the UN, particularly those related to the field of human rights, such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Refugee Agency, and UNICEF. We should establish cooperation mechanisms and recommend interns to these organizations to comprehensively and multi-dimensionally train talents in international human rights communication.

 

For another, we need to coordinate the efforts of all parties, form a joint force for the foreign publicity of the Chinese concept of human rights in the new era, and build a foreign human rights communication matrix. First, raise the overall awareness of individuals and society, call on the whole society to participate in the cause of foreign human rights publicity, and establish the consciousness that everyone is a publicity worker. On this basis, different communication subjects need to clarify their positions and establish a sense of cooperation and coordination. Second, “clarify the ‘government-led, media-first, and peripheral cooperation’ international communication structure, focus on bridging various subjects, form a linkage mechanism, and strengthen coordination and cooperation.”¹⁷ We should proactively set the agenda for major human rights issues of domestic and foreign concern, hold discussions led by relevant government departments, determine themes and calibrate positions based on domestic and international social realities, and hold press conferences to brief the media. Media outlets should then provide first-hand human rights information to the world through news channels, radio, etc., expanding the coverage of the Chinese concept of human rights. Universities, think tanks, and other research institutions should conduct in-depth analysis and interpretation of human rights issues, establish research funds, develop research projects, and hold academic conferences. Relevant organizations should establish close contacts with their foreign counterparts. Enterprises operating overseas can build platforms for human rights concept exchange and deepen the public’s understanding of the Chinese concept of human rights through practice. The general public can voice their opinions on human rights issues through the Internet and mass media both domestically and internationally and spread the Chinese concept of human rights through interpersonal communication. Finally, in regular foreign human rights publicity, the government should still play a leading role, regularly hold briefings for international communication representatives such as media, think tanks, universities, enterprises, and opinion leaders, and form a normalized mechanism to promote communication and exchange among different international communication subjects and guide them to understand the spirit of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and maintain a high degree of consistency with the major policy guidelines for the international communication of the Chinese concept of human rights. In addition, media, enterprises, and other international communication subjects should establish a normalized liaison mechanism within their organizations, set up dedicated departments and positions for fixed-point and regular contact and communication, and “regularly share resources, understand each other’s demands, and ensure targeted international communication.”¹⁸

 

(Translated by SU Yilong)

 

* LIU Jianjun ( 刘建军 ), Professor at the School of Marxism Studies, Renmin University of China, and Distinguished Professor under the Ministry of Education’s ChangJiang Scholars Program.

 

** WANG Tingting ( 王婷婷 ), Doctoral candidate at the School of Marxism Studies, Renmin University of China.

 

1. Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2022), 38.

 

2. Compilation by the Party Literature Research Center of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping on the Construction of Socialist Culture (Beijing: Central Party Literature Press, 2017), 211.

 

3. Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2022), 22.

 

4. Compilation by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping on Respecting and Protecting Human Rights (Beijing: Central Party Literature Press, 2021), 34.

 

5. Yuan Zhengqing, Li Zhiyong and Zhufu Xiaofei, “China and the Reconstruction of International Human Rights Norms,” Social Sciences in China 7 (2016): 189-203.

 

6. Li Yunlong, “The Enrichment and Development of Contemporary Chinese Human Rights Discourse,” Qian Xian 6 (2022): 39-43.

 

7. Ibid.

 

8. Zhao Yonghua and Liu Juan, “The Construction and International Communication of the Chinese Human Rights Discourse,” Journal of Renmin University of China 5 (2021): 117-125.

 

9. Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2022), 203.

 

10. Yuzo Mizoguchi, China as a Method, translated by Sun Junyue (Beijing: SDX Joint Publishing Company, 2011), 131.

 

11. Ibid., 132.

 

12. Guo Quanzhong, “On Improving Foreign Publicity: The Launch of CGTN,” Media 1 (2017): 20-21.

 

13. Zhang Jianfeng, “Thoughts on China’s International Communication and Public Opinion Guidance in the Complex Public Opinion Ecology,” International Communications 9 (2020): 20-21.

 

14. Xi Jinping, “Steadfastly Following the Chinese Path to Promote Further Progress in Human Rights,” Qiushi 12 (2022).

 

15. Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2022), 213.

 

16. Tian Xiao, “Thoughts on Adjusting and Optimizing International Communication Work,” International Communications 9 (2020): 18-19.

 

17. Ibid.

 

18. Ibid.