Before discussing how much freedom the Chinese enjoy, I would like to note that the most desirable degree of freedom varies among countries and depends on the circumstances facing the citizens. More freedom is not necessarily desirable. Freedom has its negative side not only because one person's freedom may infringe upon another's, but also because individual freedom itself may not be the ultimate goal of a society. In Chinese culture, responsibility is valued more than freedom. Individualism has not generally been considered a virtue in China. This was so even before the establishment of the PRC in 1949. Collective welfare is considered as important as, if not more important than, individual freedom. This value system has resulted from China's historical tradition and has been affected by the environment in which the people lived.

The tragic event of September 11, 2001 in the United States demonstrates that the environment can affect the value system regarding the most desirable amount of freedom. Travelers are no longer free to board an airplane without being searched. Many Islamic American citizens are under surveillance. Human rights advocates complain that our freedom is reduced by government actions in response to 9/11. The new Department of Homeland Security reminds one of Article 28 of the Chinese Constitution that empowers the state to "penalize actions that endanger public security." In the Chinese society people consider law and order to be more important than freedom, although they resent inappropriate restrictions to individual freedom in the name of law...