31
Jul
A senior Chinese official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says there is no measure of the level of freedom that should exists in one country and as such his country-China is free just as any other country in the world. “China is free. We always hear reports that people have no rights here in China. They have their standards and we have our standards, there is no measure of what rights people should enjoy”, said Wang Xiaofeng, Spokesperson’s office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking Friday to a team of journalists and information officers for English Speaking African countries in Beijing, the Chinese official expressed that what is considered human rights varies across countries and is in line with the regulations and existing laws in those countries.
Said Xiaofeng: “To admit we have some regulations. Something you can do and what you cannot do. We have our standards here and you have yours in your countries, so we have freedom here in China”. The Chinese official said there are many false reporting about his country which he says is not true about the level of freedom Chinese and other people who visit the country enjoy. According to Xiaofeng what other countries consider as human rights and freedom is not the same in all countries and as such when other countries do not follow the same practice it does not mean they do not respect human rights.
Truth Telling
Xiaofeng said people tend to believe that China is not free because Chinese believe in truth telling about the activities of their government and not trying to always hide the stories about events within the country. He called on spokespersons for governments around the world to always tell the truth because their credibility and reputation is always on the line regarding any information they release to the media and the public about their respective governments.
“Don’t stand in the way of a good story, be responsive and give our information which will prevent rumors – admit if you do not know the answer to a question”, said the Chinese Official. He cautioned governments’ spokespersons to be opened with the media as much as possible and always respond to emails and telephone from journalists seeking inquiry on issues.
“Avoid using jargons and speak to the people and the media in plain English, never fail to respond to telephone calls or emails from journalists”, he furthered. The Chinese Foreign Affairs Spokesperson mentioned what he described as the 5Cs in providing information about government to the media and the public. He named care, clarity, control, confidence and capability as the 5Cs which all government spokespersons must endeavor to practice as they give out information. Xiaofeng explained that China as a country has grown strongly in improving the frequency at which it provides information to the public and the world.
In retrospection on the openness of China, he narrated that from one press conference a week in 1983 with no questioning from the media, China as of 2011 now conducts more than 200 press conferences during weekdays responding to media queries and providing important information to the public about unfolding events.
China is criticized by man countries around the world for not allowing people to have freedom. For example social networks such as Facebook, Twitter are banned in China, something Xiaofeng said is because Chinese have their own social networks through which they communicate and people in the country should use what is in country. Another internet search engine google is not accessed in China and the Chinese official said these internet features are not allowed in China because Chinese have their own way of communicating which should not be seen as suppression of rights.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201507291222.html