Western nations, such as the UK, US and Australia have historically criticised China for its human rights abuses. Though as seen throughout 2009, these diplomatic condemnations of China's actions haven't occurred. Instead, because of China's economic growth, statements like this were made - "We won't let human rights get in the way of trade with China" (Hillary Clinton's statement when visiting China earlier this year). This is because of the strength of China's economy. Its newly found economic power is able to overpower international condemnation from its reliant trading partners. Western nations are also being held accountable to their human rights abuses and neglects, such as the US and Guantanamo Bay, UK and invasion of Iraq, Australia and the neglect of Indigenous Australians. Hence China's economic prosperity is able to diminish the capacity for dialogue about human rights abuses.
The recent report about human rights abuses and "black jails" however has come after much international concern and condemnation, especially from non government groups, such as Human Rights Watch, that aren't restricted in their opinion by lucrative trade deals. And with the acknowledgement of misconduct coming from a high ranking communist party paper, it signals a move by Chinese ministers that human rights abuses can not be overlooked or so easily swept under the carpet. However the reason these jails exist is just because of this. When a Chinese citizen wants to make a complaint, they must go to their local officials. These officials performance are not ranked or decided by a vote by the people in a democracy. They are judged by the amount of complaints that are made against them. Because there is little accountability within the communist government, these officials ignore and do not file these complaints. Hence these citizens who want to make a complaint must travel to the "State Bureau for Letters and Calls" in Beijing in person to make the complaint. And this is where the government employs civilian security forces to capture and detain those who have travelled to Beijing to make a complaint. About 10 000 Chinese travel to Beijing to make complaints a year. An unknown amount end up in "black jails".
While the Chinese Communist government is able to more effectively manage and regulate and economy, proven through its continued strength and resilience to bad foreign debt, it is unable to have effective accountability to the Chinese people. Millions more Chinese are enjoying to luxuries of a middle class life, such as owning a fridge, car, house and consumer technology. Though those who aren't on the 'golden coast' (East coast of China) aren't receiving these benefits. Their issues they wish to take up with their government aren't being heard, but instead they are being punished. The minor acknowledgement about these black jails is another step in revealing the failing process of accountability and transparency. China still strongly pursues its aim of internal stability, most notably created through military crackdowns (Tibet, Xijiang) and economic growth (the 'golden' East Coast). Though maybe more accountability, transparency and filing would work better than guns or money!
Links
China admits it runs illegal black jails - Telegraph.co.uk
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