How should we react to the latest human rights abuse in China?

Question

Yuan Weijing, wife of activist Chen Guangcheng, has herself been arrested on the way to the Philippines to receive an award for her husband.

He has been imprisoned for exposing corruption and abuse in the "One Child Policy" including forced sterilizations and involuntary abortions.

Under the communist government's one-child policy, urban dwellers are allowed one child and rural families can have two if the first is a girl.

Ruthless enforcement has triggered widespread opposition, especially in the countryside.

But Communist Party officials and the rich often ignore the law themselves.

Yuan has said that Chen, who is blind, had been severely beaten in prison.

Human Rights Watch had previously labeled her husband's case an example of the "significant deterioration" of rights in Communist China.

Shouldn't those who value human rights consider a boycott of China?

Paris Traveler

Many people have the same take that you do but its my opinion that it is the USA that has the advantage.

China could certainly cause a devaluation of the dollar but that might well be good for our economy. It would be very bad for the Chinese because the dollars they hold represent their profits.Devalue the dollar and they devalue their own holdings.

Moreover, the Chinese economy would be destroyed if exports to the USA ceased for even a very brief time.

The complete panic they are currently experiencing over health and safety concerns by Americans proves this.

The bottom line is that the USA could revert to manufacturing all its own consumer goods at any time but China's economy cannot exist in the absence of the American market.

Answer 1

The next time your in Wal-Mart or, any other large shopping facility and, your looking for clothes to buy, usually this is the biggest problems. Look at the labels and make sure the label says Made in U.S.A.
Although this can also be altered it's about as safe as you can get.
It's abhorrent to me, to know an article of clothing I bought was made by some eight (8) year old that is tied to her machine ten twelve hours a day with only one meal if she's lucky.
These horror stories come out of the Far East all the time with accuracy from the world health organizations.
Wal-Mart is the biggest contributor to these purchases to make their $89 + billions a year for the three sisters. While they turn a deaf ear to their own employees appeals.

Answer 2

That's the tip of the iceberg. I recently got back from CM2007 (Google it) and it was littered with Chinese spies. They actually tagged some Chinese citizens there, when upon returning to their country, were 'taken into custody'. Supporting China in anyway is a terrible idea. Things aren't going to change, in the US at least, because most of us here wouldn't dare fork out the extra cash to buy non-Chinese good. Not to mention actually doing something about the problem.

Answer 3

i already have a trade embargo on china and have had for the past 10 years or so, they leave baby girls to die in the gutter whilst they step over them whilst continuing their selfish lives. the Chinese 1 child policy is a good idea there are too many of them but to value boys above girls is ridiculous especially nowadays, they have the same opportunities in education as boys and are just as capable. they are moronic !

Answer 4

We need to be very careful here. While we can and need to be sympathetic to the cause of human rights, we are very heavily in debt to China right now. They could actually ruin our economy if they wanted to by demanding payment of our loans and not giving us any more. They could probably also ruin our currency if they really wanted to and it's already in bad shape. Whatever we do, and it should be loud, we just need to be careful. The economy in China is very strong right now and we are not in a very good financial position with China to try to hurt them economically over this human rights issue. We need to find a diplomatic solution on this one.

Answer 5

I do boycott China!

Answer 6

That's it, I'm not going to the Olympics now!