China’s top leader has made a historic statement regarding human rights and human dignity which has posed both doubts and meaningful questions.

During this year's Spring Festival, China's Premier Wen Jiabao made the unusually phrased statement that his government vowed to “make Chinese people more dignified”. Last Friday, during his annual government work summary to the Lianghui, he reiterated the phrase:

我们所做的一切都是要让人民生活得更加幸福、更有尊严，让社会更加公正、更加和谐

According to an analysis posted by the official website of the Chinese Communist Party, Wen's policy re-statement demonstrates China's commitment toward promoting human rights.

中国的改革开放，是人性复苏、人性张扬的过程，是人权和人的尊严日益真正得到重视的过程。1982年宪法作出了“中华人民共和国公民的人格尊严不受侵犯”的规定，从尊重人格的角度保护人的尊严；2004年宪法修正案进一步明确规定：“国家尊重和保障人权。”这从更全面的权利系列和更崇高的原则层面，宣示了对人的尊严的尊重和保障。进入新世纪以来，党和政府反复强调“以人为本、执政为民”，“一切为了人民群众，一切依靠人民群众”的基本执政方针。“让人民生活得更加幸福、更有尊严，让社会更加公正、更加和谐”，铿锵有力、掷地有声。

However in China, when the supreme authorities propose a particular concept in a formal manner, it is safe to assume that there is something seriously wrong with the actual situation, and the authorities are genuinely worried. For example, the concept of “Harmonious Society” was coined at a time of escalating social tensions across the nation. The same rule applies here also: when Premier Wen vowed to make Chinese people more dignified, we are all free to speculate just how ‘undignified’ the majority of Chinese people actually are.

We do not have to look back too far. Last Sunday, during the same Lianghui, a provincial governor threatened to complain against a journalist who asked a question on an apparently ‘sensitive’ topic; On the same day, the Deputy Minister of Sports criticized one athlete, Zhou Yang, who thanked her parents instead of China after she won a gold medal in the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

An article which was widely shared in online forums and social networking sites also pointed toward the same dilemma between what is discussed over the table and what is actually happening. The article, Chinese-Style Dignity, was apparently written by an overseas Chinese who traveled back home. He was first welcomed, but later disgusted by, an old classmate. Now a corrupt local official, that classmate had become rich, powerful and proud of himself, just like many government officials all across China. Indeed, he is living in a life of great ‘dignity’, as judged by the values in the contemporary Chinese society, but it was also the ‘dignity’ based on material wealth and the servitude of less privileged people.

我们每到一处，总是被一群人围着前恭后迎，小心赔笑奉承有加，连到餐馆吃饭都是老板亲自出马，殷勤备至。我跟着他狐假虎威了一回，体验到有如皇帝出游般前呼后拥的至尊至贵，这是我在美国没有的经历。 ….. 没错，在中国，一个人是否被尊重和被尊重的多少取决于你身上披着的社会身份的大小或财富的多少。

像有权的同学一样，一个有钱的同学也不太明白尊严在中国是个问题。在中国的经济和司法还随处有缝可钻的时候，这个同学凭借在政府部门的特殊关系，在只赚不亏的房地产行业找到了他成为富人的位置；在中国的道德开始堕落到以更新妻子包养二奶为荣的时候，他不仅与时俱进地换了个年轻漂亮的妻子，而且在同学朋友中从来不隐瞒包养的情人。现在他家里雇佣了两个保姆和一个专职司机，这些也是他向人展示他的财产的一部分。总之，他总是踩着了时代的步伐，以至他时常感叹，生为男人，只有生在中国才值得。如此的际遇，尊严在他那儿当然不是问题。

Fortunately, many Chinese people have awakened and are now set on the road to the dignity that they deserve. We only need to look at one of the stories above to draw this conclusion. The comment by Deputy Minister of Sports’ does not reflect official thought, on the contrary, it draws criticism and ridicule not only from liberal bloggers but also from the mainstream media. Clearly, the old mentality that somehow individual rights are dispensable has met some rough bumps, and more are yet to come.