CYIL vol. 13 (2022)

CYIL 13 ȍ2022Ȏ THE ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TOWARD INTERNATIONAL LAW THE ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TOWARD INTERNATIONAL LAW Max Hilaire* Abstract: China’s attitude toward international law has been shaped by its Confucius conception of law and its experience with Europe and Japan, which imposed a series of unequal treaties on it and forced it to cede some of its national territories to them. The era of these so-called unequal treaties has been seen by China as a period of humiliation. During the Cultural Revolution, China’s attitude toward international hardened, as it viewed international law as “bourgeois” law. Communist China embraced the Soviet doctrine of international law but never quite developed an international tradition of its own. Chairman Mao’s disdain for international law was intended to shield his brutal policies from international scrutiny and condemnation. Second, Mao used international law as propaganda against western governments who were still colonizing African countries. The post-Mao era led to a change in China’s attitude toward international law, as China looked to develop its economy and emerge from isolation. China signed several human rights treaties, regained its seat at the United Nations, and joined the World Trade Organization. China recognized the following international norms as guiding principles: sovereign equality, non-intervention, territorial integrity, diplomatic immunity, and peaceful coexistence. As a major power, China became more assertive and has taken a different attitude toward international law. China has not quite implemented all human rights treaties into its domestic legal system; Chinese courts cannot rule on international law disputes; China has not accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice or other international tribunals; China has not been in full compliance with its WTO obligations. China has consistently vetoed Security Council resolutions to condemn violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and it has blocked attempts by the Security Council to intervene in regional conflicts for fear it may set a dangerous precedent. China has also lobbied developing countries on the United National Human Rights Council to vote against condemnation of its human rights policies. Resumé: Postoj Číny k mezinárodnímu právu byl formován jejím Konfuciánským pojetím práva a jejími zkušenostmi s Evropou a Japonskem, které jí vnutily řadu nerovných smluv a donutily ji postoupit jim některá svá národní území. Éru těchto takzvaných nerovných smluv Čína vnímala jako období ponížení. Během kulturní revoluce se čínský postoj k me zinárodnímu přitvrdil, protože na mezinárodní právo nahlížela jako na „buržoazní“ prá vo. Komunistická Čína přijala sovětskou doktrínu mezinárodního práva, ale nikdy si zcela nevyvinula vlastní mezinárodní tradici. Opovržení předsedy Maa mezinárodním právem mělo chránit jeho brutální politiku před mezinárodní kontrolou a odsouzením. Za druhé, Mao použil mezinárodní právo jako propagandu proti západním vládám, které stále koloni zovaly africké země. Post-Mao éra vedla ke změně v postoji Číny k mezinárodnímu právu, protože Čína se snažila rozvíjet svou ekonomiku a vymanit se z izolace. Čína podepsala několik smluv o lidských právech, znovu získala své místo v Organizaci spojených národů

* Special thank you to Valeria Torres Ruiz for her valuable insight and research assistance in making this project possible. The thoughts expressed here are solely mine and I take full responsibility for the content of this project.

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