Overall, China has made substantial progress in the field of human rights. It has unambiguously and spectacularly improved the lives of hundreds of millions of people. China’s vast population is finally free from widespread famine, pestilence, homelessness and illiteracy.

China has implemented, in my opinion, two historic advancements in human rights. The first occurred in October 2014 when the Fourth Plenum of the 18^th CPC Central Committee, promoting the comprehensive rule of law, instituted far-reaching reforms in China’s judicial system. Among a host of specific reforms, control of the court system was transferred from local governments to provincial governments. The move thus eliminated a prime source of inappropriate influence on legal adjudication. In addition, the Supreme People’s Court was given new authority with the establishment of circuit courts. Judges will now be held to higher standards of professionalism and accountability, and more demanding legal proceedings and rules of evidence will protect the rights of the accused. In terms of judicial impartiality and the human rights of Chinese citizens, these are major achievements. The second historic advancement in human rights was finalized in 2015 after a long, complex battle to eliminate the use of organs sourced from executed prisoners for medical transplants.

 Even though China has made substantial progress in human rights, broadly conceived, why does the West remain largely unsympathetic, and indeed continue to be critical? Given these demonstrable accomplishments concerning the improvement of human rights in China, how does one explain Western scepticism and censure?

Clearly, the West does not understand China’s progress in protecting human rights, especially in regarding of the rule of law and judicial reform. While some Westerners argue that a competitive multiparty system would make China more stable, not less, such a system in a still-developing country of almost 1.4 billion people with major social imbalances would entail substantial risks.

I would like to see the West begin to recognize China’s human rights achievements. Both China and the West would benefit as China continues, in its own way and at its own pace, to improve human rights throughout society.