Human rights must first get in right in the home countries who are trying to spread it to other places in order to have any moral credence. Eg. If a broken family tries an preach to you how to run your household, wouldn't you squirm and look the other way?

Glynn, Kingston,

Regarding human rights, I think the Chinese themselves should have the best say, not the West.

Also, the west media is guilty of demonising China. China has changed hugely in the past 30 years, yet we still see cold war languages in the west media and debate.

Mark, London, UK

I also agree with Caroline from Melbourne.

Even though the human rights record of USA and UK is far from good, this however does not mean that Chinese people is not entitled to the same dream of freedom and democracy.

Nanjie Deng, Hefei, China

Discussing human rights in China isn't negating the fact other countries have human rights problems too. People in China are hindered if they campaign for rights becos don't have freedom of expression and speech.

It's not political, human rights are the basis of life.

http://www.uncensor.com.au

kim, sydney, australia

Congratulations Brendan, I hope others in the West see the very good point you make.

Steve, London, UK

Our human rights say that it is ok for paedophiles to be released and living rent free beside a school; their human rights say that these people should be killed for harming children. Our human rights say children must always come first yet we release madmen onto the streets and even export them?

Glynn, Kingston,

"People in the moral gutter cannot take the moral highground."
Brendan O'Neill is so right.

If we don't get rid of the blatant lies and corruption at the top, (UK MPs, Civil Service & Legal system) we have no moral ground to stand on.

That's our responsibility.

Charlotte Peters Rock, Knutsford, England

Frankly, the West does have the moral high ground over the People's Republic of China. The Communist Party is an inherently criminal organisation which turned the twentieth century into a century of blood.

Michael Petek, Brighton, UK

Nevertheless, China's human rights abuses should not be condoned.
Brendan O'Neill's argument is self defeating. Just because the west is not whiter than white does not automatically mean we cant expect any better from the East.

jan, kent, uk

Brendan O'Neill is a well known, long time peddler of fallacious arguments with no apparent purpose. His straw man arguments like the claim that 'Our” human rights abuses are blunders; “their” human rights abuses spring from a culturally ingrained wickedness' should make this abundantly clear.

Mike, London,

Brendan O'Neil and Caroline from Melbourne are both on the money here.

We have to speak up and fight for human rights... but we shouldn't demonise the Chinese in the process. That's counter-productive.

Chris, Bath, UK

I agree with Caroline from Melbourne. Two wrongs do not make one right. We have to keep fighting for human and animal rights even if our own Government often lets us down.

Jocelyne, London,

Brendan O'Neill has a point. However, it does not mean we can just sit back and let injustices happen for fear of being a hypocrite. We have to speak up and fight against disregard to human rights - whether it comes from the West or the East.

Caroline, Melbourne, Australia

Glad to see someone has a heart and courage to speak the truth!

Juan, Dalian, China