Losing One’s Freedom for Freedom’s Sake—Xu Zhiyong’s Further Response to “Subversion of State Power” Charges

1. The Residents’ Motion

You accuse me of subverting state energy. Listed here are my so-called “prison” transgressions: advocating for the Residents’ Motion, writing “A Stunning China,” collaborating within the non-violent change of concepts, and assembly with different residents offline. I’ve no intention of defending myself, as a result of it isn’t your verdict, however relatively the need of the Lord in Heaven, that may decide once we—when China—will probably be free. The daybreak approaches. For the betterment of that future stunning China, it’s needed for me to clarify as soon as once more the Residents’ Motion.

The Residents’ Motion advocates for true citizenship—i.e., true recognition of individuals’s citizenship, rights, and obligations. It advocates for the rational progress of our nation and society. It advocates for the final word realization of a ravishing China of democracy, rule of legislation, freedom, justice, and love. True recognition of citizenship implies that we’re not lowly supplicants, nor unvoiced peons caught up in some endless dynastic cycle. Residents are the masters of the nation. Residents resolve which social gathering and which people are in energy through common, democratic elections. True recognition of citizenship means recognition of our rights to elections, speech, meeting, protest, and demonstration as written within the Common Declaration of Human Rights and the Chinese language structure. Our freedom of speech should not be arbitrarily curtailed by false pretexts, reminiscent of labeling sure speech too delicate or dangerous. Residents should not be disadvantaged of their proper to vote by types of electoral manipulation such because the institution of oblique elections, the collection of hand-picked candidates, or the suppression of political opposition. As residents, we should take our obligations severely. China is a rustic of its individuals—all its individuals. It isn’t the China of any specific clan or political social gathering. As residents, we should pursue democracy, defend freedom, and uphold equity and justice.

[To those in power, I call on you to] take severely the beliefs that you just cling on the partitions—your so-called “core values” of democracy and freedom. Noble individuals all through this nation have held excessive the banner of democracy and freedom for over a century. Acknowledge this, and take it severely. It’s that straightforward. Does merely asking for this quantity to subversion of your state energy?

The Residents’ Motion advocates for contemporary, civilized public life. We consider that politics, relatively than being about “may makes proper” or the unscrupulous greedy for energy, needs to be a optimistic endeavor for the good thing about most people. Our emblem encompasses a blue background from China’s Republican Period and Mr. Solar Yat-sen’s calligraphy of the phrase “citizen.” With the intention to promote the idea of citizenship, the emblem has been reproduced on badges, t-shirts, umbrellas, water bottles, and different objects. We actively take part in public affairs, oppose detention and deportation, take part in Nationwide Individuals’s Congress elections, specific opinions on main public occasions, and submit constructive criticism. We’re very captivated with undertakings to profit the general public welfare, reminiscent of aiding earthquake victims, serving to main college college students in Tibetan areas, and stopping the pressured relocation of the Beijing Zoo. We’re public curiosity legal professionals, impartial candidates for the Nationwide Individuals’s Congress, members of native chambers of commerce, environmental safety advocates, and opinion leaders. We’re Chinese language residents who pursue freedom and love democracy. You, too, generally is a citizen. Allow us to be residents collectively, serving society, cultivating civil society, and fostering connections to create a nationwide neighborhood of residents.

The purpose of the Residents’ Motion is a freer, fairer, extra loving and delightful China. Human beings are born free. Guaranteeing this freedom is the perennial function of a rustic or society. Freedom signifies that individuals could do as they please, insofar as they don’t encroach on the liberty of others. When our actions do have an effect on others, a stability should be sought. There needs to be no restrictions on ideology or speech, and energy and accountability needs to be commensurate. Justice and equity type the logical boundary of our freedoms. In a simply and honest world, there are restrictions on the highly effective and protections for the weak, and every particular person contributes to the very best of their capacity, permitting everybody to achieve their full potential.

Love is probably the most stunning emotion on this world. Love your self. Commit your self to private growth. Excellent your soul. Love your loved ones and buddies. Love life and be pleased about it. Have love for these you have no idea. Smile warmly at strangers. Love your enemies. Sympathize with these whose souls are certain by hatred and hostility. Love all residing issues, the soul of all life, the infinite and everlasting earth. Our core values are freedom, justice, and love. That is the banner of our period and the brand new spirit of the Chinese language nation.

Being a real citizen is not only about technique, however about religion. Totalitarian techniques lack religion in themselves, thus they search to cloak themselves in trendy ideas reminiscent of democracy and freedom, relatively like a scoundrel camouflages himself in monks’ robes. If the populace takes discover of this, they’ll no less than pressure these “false clergymen” to stick to some requirements of conduct. Being a citizen, however, is extra about religion. It’s a righteous path towards a world neighborhood that belongs to all. What I need most on this life is to turn into a real citizen in a position to get pleasure from freedom of speech, the suitable to vote in honest elections, and different common rights. When that day comes, my nation could have definitely modified, too.

The Residents’ Motion will not be the title of a corporation. Residents’ teams usually are not but thought-about formal organizations in China. At some point, when China wants it, the citizenry will set up—not right into a mob-style hierarchical, personality-driven group, however into a contemporary, civilized political group based mostly on the rules of particular person freedom and democracy. It is going to be referred to as the Residents’ Union.

2. A Stunning China

My first draft of “A Stunning China” was written in 1993. It was initially titled “A Free China.” The ultimate draft was accomplished with no pen and no paper in a detention heart in October 2020. The work, made up of 24 essays, is split into three sections. The primary part comprises ten essays in regards to the civil rights motion, together with “The Twentieth Century,” “One Life for One Dream,” “Within the Identify of the Citizenry,” and others. The second part comprises 9 essays in regards to the Residents’ Motion, together with “China’s Path,” “The New Residents’ Motion,” “On Non-violence,” and extra. The third part comprises 5 essays about the way forward for China, together with “A Constitutional China,” “Good Governance,” “A Stunning China,” “The Rebirth of a Civilization,” and “My Religion.”

Within the spring of 2003, we submitted a residents’ proposal to the Nationwide Individuals’s Congress Standing Committee, requesting a constitutional assessment of the custody and repatriation system. Within the signature part of the proposal, the title “Citizen” was added in entrance of my title. With everybody becoming a member of forces, the problem created a stir amongst the general public and the federal government, and the follow of custody and repatriation was quickly abolished. Since then, a bunch of authorized professionals has been within the public eye, using the legislation as a weapon to defend Chinese language residents’ civil rights, and to advertise the democratic course of and the rule of legislation. In tutorial {and professional} circles, this motion got here to be generally known as the “residents’ rights motion.”

Over the previous decade, we now have fought for harmless individuals sentenced to loss of life, for the toddler victims of contaminated child method, and for these pressured to work as slaves in unlawful brickyards. We’ve monitored black jails, rescued illegally detained petitioners, and fought for the rights of tens of hundreds of thousands of left-behind youngsters to attend college and take the faculty entrance examination in cities the place their dad and mom dwell and work. We’ve run for seats within the Nationwide Individuals’s Congress, advocated for electoral system reform, and offered quite a few suggestions to the Nationwide Individuals’s Congress, together with the abolition of reeducation-through-labor camps and the reform of household planning coverage. We as soon as appeared ahead to the gradual development of grass-roots democracy, and the gradual enchancment of the rule of legislation. We believed China would ultimately, by means of gradual enchancment, understand a democratic, trendy society beneath the rule of legislation.

In a society through which residents have lengthy been handled as “topics,” we shine our weak mild with a purpose to awaken the individuals, and urge them to behave as residents and alter China collectively. In Might 2012, we launched the New Residents’ Motion, which was later renamed the Residents’ Motion.

Authoritarianism will perish; democracy is inevitable. It’s my hope that China will forge its personal distinctive path on the way in which to a constitutional system. I hope that the reform of the outdated financial and political system and the rise of a real market financial system and neighborhood of residents will come at minimal price to the frequent individuals. No matter whether or not the federal government is ready to full this transition in an orderly trend, or whether or not the dictatorship instantly collapses, it’s our hope China won’t fall into turmoil, however relatively will embark upon a extra stunning future. That is the trail for China to take. That is the unique aspiration of the Residents’ Motion.

When Soviet Russia underwent its political transformation, its financial system and society had been unprepared. There was turmoil and dysfunction, and authoritarianism resurfaced. China is completely different. We’ve had a market financial system for 40 years and there’s a nascent civil society. China has been getting ready for this for 40 years. We are going to proceed to work exhausting, exterior of the outdated political system, to foster a robust, rational, trendy civilization. The Chinese language revolution won’t comply with the outdated path of the Soviet Union, as a result of our residents right here received’t permit it.

We all know that China could have a ravishing future—a China that’s democratic, free, simply, and full of affection. It is going to be a China reborn, and a China admired all around the world.

3. The Rebirth of a Civilization

Our mission as little kids of China will not be nationwide rejuvenation—it’s the rebirth of our civilization. “Nationwide rejuvenation” implies bringing again a earlier period of prosperity. However what period? One may describe the Western Han Dynasty as sturdy and affluent. However the Roman Empire on the time proved rather more militarily, technologically, and culturally influential on later generations. The Tang Dynasty was very affluent culturally, however the Islamic Empire rose on the identical time, with the “Arabian Nights” and Arabic numerals spreading far and large. The Qin Dynasty was short-lived. The Music Dynasty’s military was weak. I can scarcely bear to remember the category system of the Yuan Dynasty. And science and tradition declined steadily all through the Ming and Qing.

China has been enshrouded by the Qin system for greater than 2,000 years. Though revival was achieved throughout the Tang and Music, due to the roots of our system, China’s backwardness right this moment is an inevitability. The Qin system was barbaric and domineering. All through the historical past of those dynastic cycles, the world belonged to the highly effective. Would possibly made proper. The tree of Chinese language civilization remained stunted, withered, unable to develop. Our trendy ancestors launched science, and as soon as endeavored to introduce democracy, but it surely was Communism that was launched as an alternative. Ultimately, the evil fireplace of Marxist-Leninist fetishism ravaged the nation, ensuing within the present non secular wilderness.

In China, these in energy wrestle to fight western democracy and freedom with western Communist totalitarianism. We fight western Christian civilization with the fetishization of western Marxism-Leninism. We fight the very best of the west with the dregs of the west. As such, our failure is assured. True confidence in ourselves as a nation can’t be established by disinterring our ancestors and changing them with Marxism-Leninism. It can’t be discovered within the oracle bones or the bamboo-slip scrolls of our ancestral graveyards, nor can it’s attained by whitewashing our issues, or by trumpeting a faux period of prosperity. True self-confidence shall be rooted within the beliefs and tradition of our ancestors, however based mostly on modern democracy and freedom. Self-confidence will spring from the eagerness and vitality of 1.4 billion individuals, by growing the world’s most superior know-how, most affluent financial system, and most splendid tradition. This will probably be a rebirth of our civilization, a ravishing China.

I’ve seen the glory of China’s previous. The golden masks lately excavated on the Sanxingdui archaeological website remind us of our nation’s lengthy historical past of religiosity. Identical to all main civilizations of the previous, spiritual worship performed an necessary position in historical China. Shang Tang, founding father of the Shang Dynasty, was famously benevolent. As the favored story goes, Shang Tang left three sides of his web open, so that each one animals would have ample alternative to flee. On the Battle of Mingtiao, he declared: “The Xia have dedicated many crimes. As a god-fearing man, I don’t dare however punish them, because the heavens have decreed.” Tales reminiscent of these evince a China with a soul, with religion.

Japanese civilization attained rebirth, integrating trendy science and democracy. India is within the strategy of rebirth. Chinese language civilization, too, shall be reborn. We’re left on this non secular wilderness, the place a brand new civilization is but to flourish. We should acquire the next understanding of nature, of ourselves, and of God. As soon as we do, we are going to acquire the knowledge wanted to resolve inter-civilization battle and advance towards a brand new period of humanity, with new philosophies, new religions, new applied sciences, and new cultures.

The bedrock to China’s rebirth lies in historical occasions. Historic China was a spot that believed in a Lord in Heaven. It was a bountiful non secular realm. It was a China in full bloom. The boundless energy of China’s rebirth blossoms forth into right this moment’s world, as effectively. If all our individuals had been free of their oppression and allowed to create freely, China would certainly regain its glory.

Gazing up on the everlasting moonlight by means of my iron window, I prayed with my ancestors to the Lord in Heaven. You created the universe, galaxies, life, and humanity. You impressed our knowledge, science, and all main religions. We’re like your youngsters, misplaced for 3,000 years, lonely, struggling in a non secular wilderness. However now, we’re coming dwelling. You might be watching this technology of your youngsters taking on the problem and striving to finish this lengthy autocratic twilight. They may usher within the wonderful rebirth of jap civilization, with freedom, justice, and love. It is going to be a China with a soul, a China with religion.

4. Daybreak Approaches

The Qing Dynasty was overthrown one century in the past, and the Republic of China was established. However the specter of autocracy refused to go away historical past’s stage. After a long time of inner and exterior troubles, the Republic of China fell, and autocracy returned.

Autocracy was revived, this time within the title of communism. Shouts of “Wansui!” rang out by means of the land. China’s immature democracy, rule of legislation, and market financial system had been gone with the wind. The individuals of China had simply stood up, solely to be knocked to their knees as soon as once more, in opposition to the run of historical past. The nation lacked confidence in itself. Lies swirled all through society. These lies had been maintained by means of violence and terror, beneath the guise of democracy and freedom. The individuals had been massively oppressed throughout the brand new authorities’s early days. The Anti-Rightist Motion broke the spine of academia. Through the Nice Leap Ahead, tens of hundreds of thousands starved to loss of life. The Cultural Revolution was insanity. They destroyed Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum, and dug up the grave of Confucius and plenty of different of our ancestors. There have been many occasions of bother all through China’s historical past. The Mongolians had been right here, so had been the Manchus, the Japanese, and different international occupiers. But even they no less than revered Confucius and our ancestors. Solely the specter of Soviet-Russian communism was in a position to decimate our cultural heritage to such an unprecedented diploma. Their crimes are measureless.

Such extremes are untenable. The totalitarian insanity progressively dissipated. The individuals have loved a style of freedom, a breath of contemporary air, and over three a long time  of progress and prosperity. But the spirit of totalitarianism is difficult to drive away. As soon as moribund, it has managed to roar again to life. China right this moment, listed below are the “4 Comprehensives” I see:

Complete financial disaster. Totalitarian techniques could possibly promote financial growth within the brief time period, however the market is inevitably distorted. The system exhausts the labor pressure, suppresses society, and ultimately constitutes an impediment to financial growth. China presently suffers from excessive oil costs, excessive housing costs, and excessive taxes. The nationwide financial system and folks’s livelihoods are being stifled by blood-sucking monopolies. On a regular basis persons are closely indebted and lack any spending energy. Because the saying goes, if the persons are poor, so is the nation. The highly effective steal, after which retailer their wealth overseas like swarms of rats. They recklessly make investments huge sums of cash, emptying the nationwide treasury. The enlargement of the soundness upkeep system saps our nationwide power. The remainder of the world’s financial system is booming post-pandemic, but China’s industries wither, and its persons are in dire straits. In response to this financial disaster, the highly effective have redoubled their efforts to leech our lifeblood and squander cash, imbibing poison to quench their thirst.

Complete political regression. Within the Eighties, there was dialogue about separating the Social gathering and the federal government. However to at the present time, the Social gathering nonetheless controls every little thing—the financial system, non-public enterprise, main and secondary faculties, soccer, church buildings and temples, Yin and Yang and every little thing beneath the solar. They burn the crosses atop church buildings. Buddhist monks are lined up for the elevating of the nationwide flag every day. They name this a “marvel of prosperity.” Village-level democracy has regressed over the previous 40 years. Hong Kong’s century-long freedom and rule of legislation have been destroyed. Throughout the Social gathering, they’ve invented a criminal offense referred to as “wanton discuss.” Virtually nobody dares to overtly specific their opinions. Heedless of worldwide condemnation, they overtly tamper with the structure, and vainly scheme for all times appointments to positions whose obligations they neglect. So far as China’s little kids are involved, I can’t consider something extra insupportable.

Complete cultural dilapidation. Even with a inhabitants of 1.4 billion, China’s cultural affect lags far behind that of Japan or South Korea. Confucius Institutes have run into obstacles the world over. And our as soon as grand vacation, Spring Pageant, has turn into soulless, insipid and boring. Layer upon layer of censorship have left the web in a state of despair. Movie, tv, literature, and artwork are all thematically homogenous. For the reason that Cultural Revolution, the Chinese language individuals have been wandering a non secular desert. How may we probably attain nationwide revival beneath the present establishment—with an evil spirit from the west digging up the graves of our ancestors?

Complete diplomatic failure. The 2022 Beijing Olympics had been met with the largest-scale boycotts in opposition to any Olympic Video games within the post-World Conflict II period. The Chinese language individuals have by no means earlier than encountered such widespread discrimination. Huge investments within the Belt and Highway Initiative have but to supply any return. We curry favor with tsars, view democracy as our enemy, and be part of forces with autocratic pariahs—how may our dignified nation have fallen so low?

Tens of hundreds of thousands of our individuals dwell under the worldwide poverty line. But they inform us we’re fully well-off. Our authorities’s legislative physique quantities to nothing greater than a rubber stamp, and but they declare to be the very best authority within the land. China is clearly a one-party dictatorship, but they declare to be democratic at each degree of presidency. It’s apparent the emperor has no garments, but they declare he wears probably the most stunning apparel on this planet.

The individuals’s power is being squandered. Confusion and fear abound. The pure world is in disarray. We sustained a once-in-a-century pandemic, flooding all through the central plains, mountains trembled, and thunder roared. The Lord in Heaven is warning us, but nonetheless it’s inadequate to awaken our emperor from his heedless slumber. Two years in the past, I referred to as on Xi Jinping to step down. There may be but to be a response. The time has come. The top of your reign is at hand. Heaven needs your downfall. Who may include its fury?

5. We, the Residents

Residents, daybreak is nigh. The lengthy night time of dictatorship has spanned 3,000 years. The prelude to vary started in 1840, and the final 70 years had been the hour earlier than daybreak, earlier than the lengthy night time lastly involves an finish. Communist totalitarianism is a lifeless finish. The tides of historical past can’t be held again for lengthy. Autocracy will fall. China will probably be reborn. It’s the revolution of a century, but in addition the best revolution within the final 3,000 years. That is the ultimate battle—between freedom and slavery, democracy and tyranny, mild and darkness.

We’re China’s future. What sort of future we depart for future generations will depend on our beliefs and actions right this moment. On this land of thousand-year autocracy, of toxic air pollution, we now have misplaced our nationwide religion. Our nationwide conscience is corrupted, our tradition withered. It tremendously saddens us. A brand new civilization wants a cornerstone. We residents should be that cornerstone. A brand new civilization wants fertile soil. We residents are duty-bound.

It has been twenty years since I visited quite a few villages in Hubei and Henan ravaged by the AIDS epidemic. That was the summer season after I acquired my Ph.D, once I started my journey alongside the bumpy highway of public welfare work. I’ve been crushed to the bottom in entrance of the Nationwide Public Complaints and Proposals Fee. I used to be crushed and kicked in a youth hostel doubling as a black jail, and likewise crushed in Yinan County. I used to be illegally detained in lots of locations, arrested on expenses of tax evasion, and imprisoned as a thief. As a prisoner, I used to be transferred to Tianhe Jail, then Liulin Jail, after which to Kenhua Jail. Blessed be those that sacrifice for the general public good. I’m reminded of Paul’s letter [to Timothy]: “I’ve fought the great combat and completed my course. I’ve saved the religion. What age is that this, through which I nonetheless have alternative to share the glory of the Lord?”

I’ve by no means felt hopeless. There’s a starry sky above the ruins; above the starry sky is God’s love. I by no means complain about what individuals have performed. The present predawn silence persists solely as a result of our singing will not be but loud sufficient. My ardour burns for freedom. I’ll combat for the general public good in each nook of this society. I’ll present mercy to all residing beings due to my love.

I deeply love this world. I really like each shy flower, each harmless springtime bud. I deeply love freedom. However with a purpose to combat for the liberty of others, the liberty of China, I’ve been disadvantaged of my very own freedom, time and time once more.

I used to be born on the outdated course of the Yellow River, within the hinterlands of the Central Plains. Three thousand years in the past, this place was referred to as China. Towards lengthy odds, this place had a twentieth century title: Minquan [Civil Rights]. I deeply love this republic. I really like the flickering mild of hope for our nation. I’m a latecomer to this place of such lengthy historical past, however I’ve spent my complete life preventing for civil rights. I do know that the Nice Period has begun. I hear the footsteps of historical past marching nearer. I hear them say: “Yea, stroll by means of this last valley of the shadow of loss of life.” Due to religion, I take up this cross. Due to religion, I trudge by means of years of darkness. Due to religion, I embrace with my life the rising solar that’s the rebirth of Japanese civilization.

It has been ten years because the Residents’ Motion started. What number of residents will arise all through this nice land? This nation has been on its knees for a lot too lengthy. We’ve an extended option to go. However don’t be pessimistic. Not everybody must awaken for democracy and freedom to take maintain. All we want is about ten million courageous souls—only one p.c of the nation. That’s all we have to change China. Don’t assume the night time is simply too darkish. The daybreak is inevitable. Don’t worry the silence. It’s defeated with one phrase of reality. Don’t despair over their weapons and firepower. As soon as freedom awakens, the demons will disappear and the weapons and armor will return to the individuals. Our power arises not from weapons, however from human hearts; not from lies, however from reality; not from trickery however from sincerity; not from hatred, however from love.

Bear in mind to talk the reality. The reality is highly effective. Even when talking the reality garners no quick response, the seeds are planted. They may germinate sooner or later. Talking the reality could also be banned. It might get you detained. However this simply proves its worth. Communicate the reality bravely, and correctly. Say “I’m a citizen,” say “stunning China.” Say “Come up ye who won’t be slaves.” Communicate the reality on the web, on t-shirts, on the bus and on the subway, all all through this nice land. Communicate the reality anyplace Chinese language persons are.

Bear in mind fasting days. Quick on June 4th every year. Categorical it overtly on-line. Fasting is an particularly irrepressible type of commemoration. It may persist even when freedom is misplaced. Fasting weakens the physique but strengthens the spirit. By means of this fasting, we commemorate the previous and aspire to a extra open future. We’re constructing a brand new nationwide spirit with sincerity and humility.

Bear in mind Residents’ Day. Each Sunday is Residents’ Day. Residents in each area can decide their very own Residents’ Day. On at the present time, residents collect and concern themselves with points the nation faces, change concepts, and serve society. On at the present time, residents put on badges, show the Residents’ Motion emblem, and unfold the idea of the motion.

Bear in mind “A Stunning China.” That is the imaginative and prescient we’re preventing for. That is China’s future and a path ahead. As soon as ten million residents have learn it, democracy will come to this miraculous land.

Bear in mind to like. Braveness is most vital simply earlier than daybreak. Cherish your courageous fellow residents. Don’t maliciously assault others on the web. Don’t communicate with out love. Criticize others with kindness in your coronary heart. Search to grasp each other with ardour and gentleness. Pioneers and latecomers ought to encourage one another. Totally different organizations and non secular teams ought to tolerate each other. Individuals of various walks of life ought to assist each other. Love this land and all of the vicissitudes of its long-standing civilization. Love its hard-working individuals. It’s our frequent future to finish the lengthy night time of autocracy and usher within the wonderful rebirth of Japanese civilization. Don’t be blinded by hatred. Solely with love in our hearts will we now have the power to bravely transfer ahead.

When that day comes, when individuals take to the streets, the residents shall be those main the way in which. We have already got a robust neighborhood of residents. We all know find out how to resolve ethnic tensions and historic grievances. We all know find out how to navigate out of financial crises. We all know find out how to give individuals confidence and hope. We all know find out how to heal the injuries of historical past. Fact and justice are on our facet. We all know the way forward for China—it’s scientific constitutionalism, the rebirth of our civilization, and a ravishing China. We’re prepared.

You declare we’re subverting your regime. Spare me your flattery. It received’t be us—it is going to be the complete individuals who overthrow you. If you happen to insist on attributing such glory to me, very effectively: I calmly settle for it, and promptly direct it again to the motherland and its individuals, to historical past, and at last, to the Lord in Heaven. For it’s he who has organized this all.

Citizen Xu Zhiyong, April 2022 [Chinese]