While the Western press highlights issues like authoritarianism and abuse of human rights in China, there seems to be no such shadow inside the country. People are content in their way.
A well-known global survey institution, Statista, found that on the trust level on various aspects, about 85 percent of the Chinese respondents trusted the government to do what is right in 2023, listed first place among 28 surveyed countries. Similarly, according to the UN’s World Happiness Report, China’s happiness index ranged at 5.97 points in 2023 increasing from 4.98 in 2013.
During the last week of August, I strolled through the Jiangbei and Jiefangbei areas in Chongqing in the evening. I observed the lively atmosphere of Chinese life—children, parents, siblings and friends all having a good time in the brightly lit squares. The nearby alleys were filled with restaurants, and there was no chaotic rush of rickshaws or the loud honking of taxis and cars. People were simply enjoying their time—some were playing, others were eating. It was a scene of calm, quite different from the hustle and bustle typical of evenings in many developed countries. This is the life of the Chinese people. After working all day, they come out in the evening. The parks are full. Crowds are making TikTok videos, and others walking along the riverbanks, enjoying the lights reflecting on the Yangtze River.
From birth, Chinese people carry a strong sense of moral and cultural awareness. Unlike citizens of Western or other countries who often pursue ambitious dreams, they find contentment in their surroundings.
Western media has made significant efforts to link human rights and freedom of expression with China. But what do these concepts truly mean? What is happiness and contentment? Perhaps Westerners could learn from the Chinese perspective. If, in a single lifetime, a person accomplishes their goals, obtains what they desire, and lives the life they’ve always wanted, where else could they find greater happiness and contentment?
Proponents of loud democracy often don’t understand this perspective. They believe that when a state oppresses its citizens, the citizens have the right to protest, and if the state exploits or mistreats them, they have the right to strike as a form of resistance, which they view as an expression of freedom. But consider this: if the state doesn’t oppress its people, addresses their concerns systematically and citizens don’t need to protest to meet their needs, would there even be a question of freedom of expression? If people have access to food, clothing, jobs, the ability to travel and are generally content with their lives, would the issue of freedom of expression even come up?
Dissatisfaction with the state typically arises when people are denied education, forced to migrate for work or face discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, race, or geography. However, if a state has resolved all these issues and eliminated discrimination, there would be little reason for dissatisfaction. And if there is no dissatisfaction, the question of freedom of expression might not even arise. This is an aspect that the West often overlooks about China.
According to the UNDP, China has experienced substantial social development alongside its rapid economic growth over recent decades. From 1990 to 2019, China’s Human Development Index (HDI) rose by 52.5 percent, moving from a ‘low’ value of 0.499 to a ‘high’ value of 0.761, making it one of the few countries to achieve this shift. Significant progress has also been made in gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). Between 1995 and 2020, the HDI value for Chinese women increased from 0.522 to 0.744. Moreover, in 2020, China’s Gender Development Index (GDI) improved to 0.957, up from 0.912 in 1995, showing that the disparities between women and men in education, health and economic resources are decreasing.
Chongqing, a municipality in China, is centered around the Yangtze River. Nearby, there is an alley called Ninth Street, where the freedom of expression and lifestyle questioned by the West is visibly thriving. Visiting Ninth Street feels akin to being in Las Vegas or a European city, where extreme personal freedom is evident.
The alley is vibrant, with dazzling lights and decorated signs. Young couples in semi-nude outfits are common, and there are long lines outside discos and clubs. Couples stroll along the streets, enjoying a sense of bliss. For someone visiting China for the first time, this scene is as surprising as it is fascinating. This is just one example; in many cities, people are free to enjoy their lives.
Given the portrayal of China by Western media, one might wonder: Is this kind of freedom possible in China? Can people dance in discos and clubs at midnight? Can lively interactions and spirited bargaining of goods occur on the streets of China?
The China that outsiders often misrepresent has become a model for a happy and content life. In this country, the government has effectively addressed people’s concerns, and social life is guided by strong moral and cultural values. Economic systems support social morality, leading to minimal dissatisfaction with the state. People enjoy full freedom of expression and movement.
The UNDP report shows that over the past decade, the annual per capita disposable income in China has risen, reaching 51,821 RMB ($7927) in urban areas and 21,691 RMB in rural areas by 2023. Although the income gap between urban and rural areas remains significant, it has been narrowing since 2013, with the urban-rural income ratio decreasing to 2.38 in 2023. According to the UNDP’s Human Development Report 2023/2024, titled
Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World
, China’s Human Development Index (HDI) increased to 0.788 in 2022, up from 0.499 in 1990. The Chinese foreign ministry highlighted that China is the only country that has moved from the low development group to the high development group since 1990, thanks to its people-centered development approach.
China has emerged as a strong player, being the world’s second-largest economy with a rapidly expanding commercial influence across Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
China faces a challenging period as it seeks to evolve from a foundational aspect of its new democratic republic into socialism while managing changes in production relations. Successfully navigating this transition could render Western criticisms irrelevant and set a new precedent in Marxist development.
Gokarn Bhatt has recently participated Belt and Road Journalist Forum held in Chongqing and is an editor of www.everestdainik.com in Nepal.
The views don’t necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
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