This document summarizes a press conference between President Clinton and President Jiang Zemin of China in 1997. Some key points of discussion included: - President Jiang stated that concepts of democracy, human rights, and freedoms are relative and specific to each country's national situation. - President Clinton acknowledged that China is often on the right side of history on many issues, but believes China's policy on human rights is on the wrong side of history, referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. - Clinton said freedom of speech in the US allows many criticisms of himself and the government but the country has remained strong. This implied disagreements with Jiang's view of relative human rights standards. The

1. PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENTPRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT
CLINTON AND PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN,CLINTON AND PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN,
October 29, 1997October 29, 1997
 PRESIDENT JIANG: Our two countries have different geographical
locations, and we are also thousands of miles apart geographically. We
also have different historic and cultural tradition, different levels of
economic development, and different values. Therefore, I believe it is just
natural for our two countries to hold different views on some issues.........
And I also believe the that world we are living in is a rich and diverse one,
and, therefore, the concepts on democracy and human rights and on
freedoms are relative and specific ones, and they are to be determined by
the specific national situation of different countries.
 PRESIDENT CLINTON: ..... the United States recognizes that on so many
issues China is on the right side of history, and we welcome it. But on this
issue we believe the policy of the government is on the wrong side of
history. There is, after all, now a Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The second point I'd like to make is that I can only speak from our
experience. And America has problems of its own, which I have frankly
acknowledged. But in our country I think it would amaze many of our
Chinese guests to see some of the things that have been written and said
about me, my family, our government, our policies. And, yet, after all this
time, I'm still standing here and our country is stronger than it was before
those words were uttered six years ago.

2. Speech by President Xi Jinping at the College of Europe (2014-04-01)Speech by President Xi Jinping at the College of Europe (2014-04-01)
 For any country in the world, the past always holds the key to theFor any country in the world, the past always holds the key to the
present and the present is always rooted in the past. Only when wepresent and the present is always rooted in the past. Only when we
know where a country has come from, could we possibly understand whyknow where a country has come from, could we possibly understand why
the country is what it is today, and only then could we realize in whichthe country is what it is today, and only then could we realize in which
direction it is heading…direction it is heading…
 China has a time-honored civilization.. Great thinkers such as Laozi,China has a time-honored civilization.. Great thinkers such as Laozi,
Confucius and Mozi, to name just a few, explored a wide range of topicsConfucius and Mozi, to name just a few, explored a wide range of topics
from the universe to the Earth, and from man's relations with nature tofrom the universe to the Earth, and from man's relations with nature to
relations amongst human beings and to that between the individual andrelations amongst human beings and to that between the individual and
society. The extensive and profound schools of thought they establishedsociety. The extensive and profound schools of thought they established
covered many important ideas, such as the moral injunction of fidelity tocovered many important ideas, such as the moral injunction of fidelity to
one's parents and brothers and to the monarch and friends, the sense ofone's parents and brothers and to the monarch and friends, the sense of
propriety, justice, integrity and honor, the emphasis on benevolence andpropriety, justice, integrity and honor, the emphasis on benevolence and
kindness towards fellow human beings and the belief that man should bekindness towards fellow human beings and the belief that man should be
in harmony with nature, follow nature's course and unremittingly pursuein harmony with nature, follow nature's course and unremittingly pursue
self-renewal. These values and teachings still carry a profound impact onself-renewal. These values and teachings still carry a profound impact on
Chinese people's way of life today, underpinning the unique valueChinese people's way of life today, underpinning the unique value
system in the Chinese outlook of the world, of society and of life itself.system in the Chinese outlook of the world, of society and of life itself.

3. Speech by President Xi Jinping at the College of Europe (2014-04-01)Speech by President Xi Jinping at the College of Europe (2014-04-01)
 The world's development is multi-dimensional, and its history is never aThe world's development is multi-dimensional, and its history is never a
linear movement. China cannot copy the political system or developmentlinear movement. China cannot copy the political system or development
model of other countries, because it would not fit us and it might evenmodel of other countries, because it would not fit us and it might even
lead to catastrophic consequences. The Chinese people, over 2,000 yearlead to catastrophic consequences. The Chinese people, over 2,000 year
ago, had come to understand this from a simple fact that the tastyago, had come to understand this from a simple fact that the tasty
orange, grown in southern China, would turn sour once it is grown in theorange, grown in southern China, would turn sour once it is grown in the
north. The leaves may look the same, but the fruits taste quite different,north. The leaves may look the same, but the fruits taste quite different,
because the north means different location and different climate…because the north means different location and different climate…

 ……Third, China is a socialist country with Chinese characteristics. In 1911,Third, China is a socialist country with Chinese characteristics. In 1911,
the revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen overthrew the autocratic monarchythe revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen overthrew the autocratic monarchy
that had ruled China for several thousand years. But once the old systemthat had ruled China for several thousand years. But once the old system
was gone, where China would go became the question. The Chinesewas gone, where China would go became the question. The Chinese
people then started exploring long and hard for a path that would suitpeople then started exploring long and hard for a path that would suit
China's national conditions. They experimented with constitutionalChina's national conditions. They experimented with constitutional
monarchy, imperial restoration, parliamentarism, multi-party system andmonarchy, imperial restoration, parliamentarism, multi-party system and
presidential government, yet nothing really worked. Finally, China tookpresidential government, yet nothing really worked. Finally, China took
on the path of socialism.on the path of socialism.

4. Huntington's Clash of Civilizations
 main hypothesis: “It is my hypothesis that
the fundamental source of conflict in this new
world will not be primarily ideological or primarily
economic. The great divisions among humankind
and the dominating source of conflict will be
cultural... The clash of civilizations will dominate
global politics. The fault lines between
civilizations will be the battle line of the future.”
[p.1]

5. Huntington's Clash of Civilizations
 definition: A civilization is a cultural entity... A
civilization is the highest cultural grouping of people
and the broadest level of cultural identity people
have short of that which distinguishes humans from
other species. It is defined both by common
objective elements, such as language, history,
religion, customs, institutions, and by the subjective
self-identification of people. [p.3]

6. According to Huntington, the world is divided into 7 or 8
civilizations: Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu,
Slavic-Orthodox, Latin American, and African civilizations.

7. HuntingtonHuntington’s assumptions’s assumptions
about culture and identityabout culture and identity
 differences among civilizations are not only real;
they are basic". [p.4]
 “Cultural characteristics and differences are less
mutable and hence less easily compromised and
resolved than political and economic ones.... In
class and ideological conflicts, the key question is
‘which side are you on?’, and people could and
did choose sides and change ideas. In conflicts
between civilizations, the question is ‘What are
you?’ That is a given that cannot be
changed." [argument 5, p. 5]

8. The major Implication of HuntingtonThe major Implication of Huntington’s’s
argument: “West vs. the Rest”argument: “West vs. the Rest”
 The major Implication of HuntingtonThe major Implication of Huntington’s argument: “West vs. the Rest”.’s argument: “West vs. the Rest”.
 1. Of the 7-8 major civilizations that exist in the world, one dominates1. Of the 7-8 major civilizations that exist in the world, one dominates
today in terms of economic, military, and political power - namely thetoday in terms of economic, military, and political power - namely the
west.west.
 2. West different from others: rooted in the experience of people who live2. West different from others: rooted in the experience of people who live
in particular place and time. Specific concern - Islamic-Confucianin particular place and time. Specific concern - Islamic-Confucian
connection.connection.
 3. Policy Implication - A new strategy of Containment.3. Policy Implication - A new strategy of Containment.
 Limit the power of these two: new strategy of containment: - DonLimit the power of these two: new strategy of containment: - Don’t let’t let
them acquire weapons of mass destruction.them acquire weapons of mass destruction.
 Play off conflicts within these civilization.Play off conflicts within these civilization.

9. "Culture is Destiny: A Conversation with Lee Kuan Yew"Culture is Destiny: A Conversation with Lee Kuan Yew““
(Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959-1990)(Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959-1990)
 TheThe “West”:“West”:
 ““The liberal intellectual tradition that developed after WWII claimed thatThe liberal intellectual tradition that developed after WWII claimed that
human beings had arrived at this perfect state where everybody would behuman beings had arrived at this perfect state where everybody would be
better off if they were allowed to do their own thing and flourish. It has notbetter off if they were allowed to do their own thing and flourish. It has not
worked out, and I doubt if it will.” {p.221}worked out, and I doubt if it will.” {p.221}
 ““I'm not intellectually convinced that one-man one-vote is the best ... weI'm not intellectually convinced that one-man one-vote is the best ... we
would have a better system if we gave every man over the age of 40 whowould have a better system if we gave every man over the age of 40 who
has a family two votes because he’s likely to be more careful, voting alsohas a family two votes because he’s likely to be more careful, voting also
for his children. He is more likely to vote in a serious way than afor his children. He is more likely to vote in a serious way than a
capricious young man under 30".{p.227}capricious young man under 30".{p.227}
TheThe “Confucian East”“Confucian East”
 ““Eastern societies believe that the individual exists in the context of hisEastern societies believe that the individual exists in the context of his
family. He is not pristine and separate. The family is part of the extendedfamily. He is not pristine and separate. The family is part of the extended
family, and then friends and the wider society. The ruler or thefamily, and then friends and the wider society. The ruler or the
government does not try to provide for a person what the family bestgovernment does not try to provide for a person what the family best
provides”. {p.222}provides”. {p.222}

10. Tu Wei-Ming on the Enlightenment (2000)Tu Wei-Ming on the Enlightenment (2000)
 The Enlightenment mentality broke the feudal bonds of the Middle Ages and was, forThe Enlightenment mentality broke the feudal bonds of the Middle Ages and was, for
a time, a great ideological emancipator, effecting the liberation of the mind, fora time, a great ideological emancipator, effecting the liberation of the mind, for
Europe and subsequently for all of humankind. However, this EnlightenmentEurope and subsequently for all of humankind. However, this Enlightenment
mentality, in itsmentality, in its “humanistic” form, has since come to exhibit serious limitations; to a“humanistic” form, has since come to exhibit serious limitations; to a
certain extent, it has in a sense brought about a new bondage of the human mind,certain extent, it has in a sense brought about a new bondage of the human mind,
functioning more and more as a kind of psychocultural cultivator of human self-functioning more and more as a kind of psychocultural cultivator of human self-
destruction. Since the eighteenth century, Enlightenment humanism has come to bedestruction. Since the eighteenth century, Enlightenment humanism has come to be
characterized by a strong anthropocentrism and an instrumentalist rationalism;characterized by a strong anthropocentrism and an instrumentalist rationalism;
these tendencies have become so pronounced that this new humanism can perhapsthese tendencies have become so pronounced that this new humanism can perhaps
rightly be labeled “the arrogance of rationality.”….rightly be labeled “the arrogance of rationality.”….
 In this individualistic humanism, Nature is treated as instrumental and as an objectIn this individualistic humanism, Nature is treated as instrumental and as an object
of consumption; spirituality is irrelevant in solving fundamental human problems;of consumption; spirituality is irrelevant in solving fundamental human problems;
communal values are ignored; universal human rights are declared without anycommunal values are ignored; universal human rights are declared without any
thought of human duties; the promise of economic growth and the improvement ofthought of human duties; the promise of economic growth and the improvement of
living conditions are conceived as limitless; the market model of economy hasliving conditions are conceived as limitless; the market model of economy has
become the dominant model of society—that is, a market society in which the social-become the dominant model of society—that is, a market society in which the social-
Darwinian model of self-interest and competitiveness is accepted as the only way toDarwinian model of self-interest and competitiveness is accepted as the only way to
achieve success. (pp. 379-80)achieve success. (pp. 379-80)