英文摘要 |
This article aims to understand the Hu Jintao administration's position on human rights through an examination of its policy programmes. Chinese leaders understand that rapid economic development has a severe impact on social stability. Vested interests pose resistance to liberalization; but the leadership is also reluctant to accept effective checks and balances mechanisms limiting the Party regime. As a result, media freedom and the role of the people's congress system expanded little in the initial years of the Hu administration. In this context, dissidents and the human rights movement have encountered greater pressure. The Chinese authorities intend to create a deterrence effect. From the boycott of Liu Xiaobo's Nobel peace prize to the suppression of Ai Weiwei and Chen Guangcheng, Chinese leaders are willing to pay the price in terms of damages to China's intentional image to maintain the deterrence. While China spends substantial resources to develop its soft power, it accepts the tarnishment of China's image, thus reflecting the regime's priorities. After all, suppressing the threats to the Party regime is regarded most important. |