Putting China's Criminal Dictator on Trial Will Generate Positive Results for Sino-American Relations in the Long Run

Let's think hypothetically for a moment. Some 60 years ago, if Jews being persecuted by the Nazi's filed a lawsuit before World War II in the United States against the German dictator Hitler, and a U.S. government lawyer complained that this would bring serious consequences for diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany, how would we today judge this lawyer's sense of justice and conscience? Before this war between the United States and Iraq, if a group of Iraqis brought a lawsuit in U.S. court against Saddam Hussein's group for human rights abuses, and a U.S. government lawyer complained that this would bring serious consequences for the diplomatic relations between the United States and Iraq, how would we judge this lawyer's moral standard?

According to a report by the Associated Press, a U.S. government lawyer warned that the lawsuit brought against former Chinese Premier Li Peng in New York by victims of the Tiananmen Massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators on June 4th, 1989, would bring "serious consequences" for Sino-American relations, and asked the judge to refuse to take on this case. This article also mentioned that the lawsuit brought against China's dictator Jiang by Falun Gong supporters in Chicago also drew the Chinese government's vehement protest.

I sincerely hope that the U.S. government's lawyers and officials will not obstruct this lawsuit against Jiang using diplomatic relations as an excuse. Even if this is just lip service for the benefit of the Chinese government, it's still absolutely not right. Because by doing so, it's just like speaking on behalf of Hitler or Saddam. Such a position will be recorded and denounced by history, and the bad consequences won't stop there.

The Chinese dictator absolutely does not represent China or the Chinese people, and he most definitely does not represent the Chinese civilisation. On the contrary, this cruel dictator is destroying China, persecuting the kindest group of Chinese people, undermining the Chinese civilisation's morality, and threatening the future and interests of the world's people. Bringing a lawsuit against the Chinese dictator is not at all targeting China or the Chinese people, but targeting the person whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people and his accomplices. These basic principles must be made clear.

The U.S. court's taking on the lawsuit against the Chinese dictator might also draw the Chinese government's so-called "vehement protest," and perhaps diplomatically the U.S. government will be subjected to various forms of obstruction from the Chinese government, bringing about some inconveniences. But I hope that the U.S. government officials keep in mind that the United States' greatest asset is the country's founding principles, that is, the freedom of belief and human rights. If some officials discard the United States' founding principles in exchange for some petty gains diplomatically, that would be a very shortsighted decision. It'd be selling out the spirit of the United States, and the person who makes this type of decision doesn't deserve to be a part of the United States' democratically elected government, and he will pay a dear price in the future for going against his conscience.

One of the fundamental aspects of the American political system is the separation of the three branches of government. The judicial branch is independent of the legislative and the executive branches, and the government cannot interfere with the decisions made by the courts. Even former United States presidents have been subpoenaed by the court system. If the Jiang regime tries to make trouble for the U.S. government based on decisions of its court system, and retaliates against the U.S. administration, then the U.S. administration should clearly and solemnly denounce this type of underhanded political act. The U.S. administration definitely cannot allow the Jiang regime's threats to influence it to place blame on the judicial system or the people who brought the lawsuit against Jiang. The Jiang regime routinely uses this policy of implication to enforce its rule by terror, but the U.S. administration absolutely cannot be cowed by this threat of retaliation or submit to it.

The Chinese dictator Jiang has no ability as a leader, and no morality. His nature is cruel and shameless. The Chinese people are victims of his violent rule, and have no outlet to publicly express their outrage and disgust. Chinese government officials, threatened by his violence and seduced by the riches he offers them, may still serve him for the time being. But in the hearts and minds of the Chinese people and government officials, Jiang is no more than a political hooligan. Bringing this political scoundrel and human rights villain to trial will not damage Sino-American relations. Quite to the contrary, this is an act that will be welcomed by the Chinese people. In the long run, it will bring positive changes to China's political landscape, and will generate positive results for Sino-American diplomatic relations.

Chinese version available at http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200304/19270.html