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Not long ago, Stephen Young, the United States' top diplomat in Hong Kong, made high-profile remarks over the "deteriorating human rights situation on the mainland" at the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). His speech instantly drew a barrage of criticism both in the city and beyond. Here I would like to offer my take on the issue.

At the beginning, when elaborating his views on Sino-US strategic and economic dialogue, the consul-general appeared to be friendly and gentle. When it came to the topic of human rights, he suddenly put on a stern face with his tone turning harsh and hostile. He said that the US has remained very concerned in recent months by reports that dozens of people, including public interest lawyers, writers and artists, have been arrested, detained or simply "disappeared" with no regard to legal measures. He went on to say "we are deeply troubled by longer term trends in China's policies toward Tibet and Xinjiang".

As far as I can remember, this was Young's first key public speech focusing on human rights since he took the top job at the US Consulate General in Hong Kong in March 2010. But he is certainly not a new face in the political and diplomatic world. We all know he has served in the offices of Mongolian affairs, Soviet affairs, Caucasus and Central Asia affairs respectively over his long career with the US Department of State. It is worth mentioning that he was an important behind the scenes figure in organizing "color revolution", which brought catastrophic consequence to the relevant countries.

Young stressed that human rights are universal values. I totally agree with him on this point, but I also believe that "the right to lead a good life" should be placed far above other rights. As we have witnessed, China's astonishing economic growth has lifted 400 million of people out of poverty in a short period spanning one generation, at a scale and speed that have never been seen before in human history. Within another one or two decades, poverty and starvation are expected to be completely rooted out.

Not only Chinese people but the whole world is reaping the benefits from this unprecedented achievement. China's emergence as the counterbalance to failing economies in the West over the past few years justifies my viewpoint. Yet, what is the main recipe of such glittering success? It is social stability, which is a precondition for rapid and sustainable economic development. Being able to see this point is the key to understand why Chinese leadership makes political and social stability an unyielding principle.

The primacy of its citizens' livelihood is deeply rooted in the Chinese tradition of governance. I remember ancient Chinese philosopher Guanzi once said: "when the granaries are full, people mind their rites and manners; when fed and clothed, people cherish their sense of honor and shame." Perhaps this centuries-old quote can be illustrated in a modern way: "To live well is the most fundamental of human rights."

The Chinese government's approach of "stability beats all" truly reflects the reality on the mainland. The past and the present have proven, and the future will continue to prove, that social unrest and upheaval do no good to China. Can anyone imagine how disastrous it would be for China and its neighboring countries if the turmoil and influx of refugees that has being going in Libya, Syria and Yemen for months happens in China, which has a population of 1.3 billion? We don't want to take the chance of having the unthinkable happen.

I believe that the Chinese leadership knows about the nation's actual conditions more than any outsiders and onlookers. The government is well aware that it has to carry both economic and political reforms further. It has to make unremitting efforts to combat social injustice, to push society to the rule of law, to narrow the ever-widening wealth gap, to tame runaway property prices, to kick out corrupt bureaucrats, to mould a more service-oriented and people-based administration, etc.

However, the government's top priority at this stage is to create a harmonious social atmosphere in an attempt to make its vibrant economic growth sustainable. In this regard, the authorities will do anything to avoid a disorganized and hasty transition. Or putting it another way, further reform must be incremental.

In fact, China has taken a much more open-minded approach than it used to in interpreting and practicing human rights. Being at different stages of development, it is quite natural for China and the US to carry out different priorities in promoting human rights. Therefore, Stephen Young and all politicians in Washington as a whole must take China's unique reality into careful consideration before jumping up and down and pointing accusing fingers at China's human rights record. They should heed Beijing's concerns over fears of a destabilized situation. In this context, Stephen Young's remarks at AmCham were obviously laden with bias and prejudice.

US Vice-President Joe Biden claimed at the Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington last month: the relationship between China and the US and how well the two countries manage it will shape the 21st century. He pointed to the fact that Sino-US ties have implications far beyond their bilateral scope. At present, both sides have a strong basis of shared interests, and both the economies and societies are increasingly interlinked. That means that we are becoming part of the solution to the other's problems. As such, we should face the differences squarely and discuss the disputes with mutual respect and on an equal footing, so as to strive in the same direction where national and global interests will eventually coincide.

Last but not the least, we agree that human rights is a universal pursuit, but we should also take precautions against someone who rigs the issue as a pretext to interfere with the internal affairs of other countries.

The author is a current affairs commentator.

(HK Edition 06/17/2011 page3)