Thesis Statement:

The world should take more action against China because they are an authoritarian regime that has abused the human rights of its citizens multiple times.

Background and Evidence:

China is one of the worst countries in the world when it come to handling human rights. Chinese citizens have none of the rights we take for granted every day, the right to freedom of speech, assembly, religion, or press. The Chinese government has shown that it will not tolerate dissent as demonstrated by their handling of major protests. For example, during the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests military force was used against pro-democracy demonstrators, leading to many deaths. A more recent example would be China suppressing protests in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, China has oppressed minority groups such as the Uighur Muslims, Tibetans and Falun Gong. These groups have been treated terribly by the Chinese government. Those who resist are made political prisoners and put into reeducation camps. China has been known to harvest the organs of those in these camps on a large scale. Forced abortions, torture and sterilizations are also common.

The governments of the free world have condemned China for the atrocities mentioned above but, very little action has been taken to stop China from violating human rights. The likely reason for this is because of our dependence on China for cheap manufacturing. In addition, many companies don’t speak out in fear of losing access to the lucrative Chinese market.

Sources I Have Found:

Survivors and victims on shocking state-sanctioned organ harvesting in China

China’s policy of harvesting the organs of political prisoners has slowly been revealed over the past few years. China denies this barbaric practice but the incredibly short wait times on its organ transplant lists suggests that it is taking place. The victims of forced organ harvesting are mostly members of the Falun Gong spirituality who are targeted due to their membership in a minority religious group. Prisoners are screened thoroughly in order to ensure their organs are healthy enough to be harvested. Those prisoners who are not deemed healthy enough for harvesting are not given any medical care at all.

https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/chinas-forced-sterilization-uighur-women-cultural-genocide

Members of the Uighur Muslim minority in Xingjian China are being oppressed by the Chinese government. Beginning in 2017 more than 1 million Uighurs have been detained unlawfully. In detention they commonly face forced labor and torture. Many of the women are sterilized against their wills, some die due to the procedure. Furthermore, Uighur children whose parents have been detained are sent to government sponsored “boarding schools” where they are brainwashed to forget their ethnic roots. What China is doing to the Uighurs can be labeled as cultural genocide.

China’s strict policy against dissent is starting to affect foreign entities. Earlier this month China blocked the airing of NBA games in china and demanded the firing of the Houston Rockets GM who spoke out in favor of Hong Kong. Many other companies are now being forced to censor themselves or lose access to the Chinese market. What’s ironic is that free speech is “guaranteed” in China’s constitution as long as you don’t speak out against the government. Other companies have also fallen prey to China including Blizzard, DreamWorks, and American Airlines.

Hong Kong: Shooting of protester must be investigated amid alarming escalation of police use of force 

Hong Kong police are being criticized for their use of excessive force in response to the Hong Kong protests. The pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong which started last June in protest of an extradition bill that would have allowed China to extradite from Hong Kong and are still raging on today. Recently police shot a protestor which marked an escalation in police response. The officer who shot the protester claims he was fearing for his life but, some argue that he was not in any danger at all.

Sources I Haven’t Found Yet:

I would like to find more firsthand accounts from Chinese citizens about how their human rights are being violated by the Chinese government especially regarding free speech/free expression. This could introduce a more “personal aspect” that could be persuasive and generate empathy from the reade.

I also want to find more sources regarding the situation in Hong Kong and how China is decreasing the human rights and freedoms of HK citizens.

Counterarguments I May Need to Refute:

Plenty of other countries are just as bad as or even worse than China regarding human rights, why should we single China out?

Why should we care about things happening in China, how do they affect us?