In defense of Chinese policies

To the Editor:

Matthew G. Alexander's editorial, " China's atrocities must end" [YH, 10/1/99], displays the same arrogant American thinking toward China that could lead to a World War III if left unchecked. Full human rights in modern China are an impossibility, and punishing China by isolating and condemning it will only hinder the progress that is possible.

Alexander insists that "there is no place in the community of civilized nations for China's brand of barbarism." Admittedly, China is a tremendously large developing nation with a tremendously large number of domestic problems. However, its modern, functional market economy exists only because of the cohesion engendered by firm government control. If China were to allow full democracy and human rights today, the resulting chaos would destroy all the gains the nation has made.

Alexander writes as though no advances have been made in China's 50 years of Communist rule. Nothing could be further from the truth. While China certainly has much farther to go, public criticism of government can be heard today in Beijing, a demonstration of free expression unthinkable just five years ago. Economic liberties are so great that China can be considered Communist only in name. The Chinese today enjoy more freedom and material wealth than ever before. Moreover, China is working furiously to build a working economic infrastructure to support its current population. As a result, if the one-family-one-child policy were ended now, the resulting population growth would destroy the achievements that are putting food on Chinese families' tables. It is easy but deadly to ignore these realities when we look at China from the supposed moral height of our ivory tower.

At some point in the next two decades, societal and economic stability and advancement will come to China. At that time, Alexander will have a case when he advocates economic sanctions to further the protection of Chinese human rights. Until then, condemning and punishing China will only serve to harm its people and result in the growth of a dangerous enmity that already exists in the explosive East Asian arena.

—Michael J. Baldwin, Jr., BR '01

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