U.S. thought leaders across all sectors attach high importance to advancing human rights in China.

On a scale of 1–10, where "10" means "worth putting other priorities at significant risk," the mean response from thought leaders overall was 7.04 (7.40 with respect to Hong Kong, 6.92 for Tibet and Xinjiang, and 6.79 for rights of dissidents in China).

Evaluated on a scale of "1 – Take no risk" to "10 – Take significant risk"

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CSIS | Thought Leaders Q4-8

By the Numbers

7.04
This mean response shows U.S. thought leaders support taking significant risk to advance human rights in China (on a scale of 1 to 10).
51%
of U.S. thought leaders engaged in business with China favor combining clear criticism of abuses with targeted economic sanctions.

Among U.S. thought leaders, 49% think the emphasis in U.S. policy toward China on human rights should be to combine clear criticism of abuses with targeted economic sanctions.

Strikingly, 51% of thought leaders engaged in agriculture, trade, and business with China favor targeted economic sanctions despite the implications for their economic interests. In focus group discussions with leaders in finance, it was noted that Wall Street has come to understand that targeted sanctions do not necessarily interrupt their broader business. Nevertheless, there may be far more connectivity between human rights groups and business than historical experience would suggest.

Thought leaders engaged in civil society and scholarly exchange with China are most hesitant to use targeted economic sanctions—just 37%—and are most supportive of combining quiet dialogue and engagement with public criticism of Chinese human rights abuses. Focus group discussions with leaders in these fields suggest that these respondents are most likely to need access to an uninterrupted exchange with China for their work but also that they see the possibility for change at a grassroots level and through individual interactions across Chinese society.