China and America have maintained trade relations despite the increasing number of human rights violations in the mainland.
James Mann, a resident fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, wrote in the New York Times that the U.S., together with many countries, turns a blind eye to China's suppression of human rights for the sake of maintaining trade relations.
He wrote, "Indeed, in the past two years the Chinese government has been moving new ways against people and institutions that might, even indirectly, provide support for the independent political activity."
"The world's increased commercial involvement with China over the past two decades had made foreign leaders more reluctant to do anything in response to China's crackdowns, lest the Chinese people retaliate," he added.
During the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, and the U.S. agreed that they will be joining efforts on trade and destroy all forms of protectionism.
According to the joint statement, leaders of rich countries like China, the U.S., the EU and Japan pledged "opposition to protectionism on trade and investment in all its forms."
The joint statement also expressed, "The benefits of trade and open markets must be communicated to the wider public more effectively."
Mann said that with enhanced trade partnerships with China, countries should still fight for the promotion of democratic rights.
He wrote, "What we can do is continue to express as forcefully as possible the values of political freedom and the right to dissent. Democratic governments around the world need to collaborate more often in condemning Chinese repression--not just in private meetings but in public as well."
"Why should there be a one-way street in which Chinese leaders send their children to America's best schools while locking up lawyers at home?" he asked.