Global Freedom Report: China Remains a "Not Free" Country

Police officers in front of the Potala Palace. (People News)

[People News] The U.S.-based Freedom House, an organization dedicated to democracy advocacy and research, has released its latest Global Freedom Report. Based on a 100-point scale, China scored only 9 points, continuing to be classified as a "Not Free" country. Tibet, which received a score of 0, was also labeled as a "Not Free" region, while Hong Kong, with a score of 40 points, was categorized as a "Partly Free" region.

According to Radio Free Asia, the report evaluates global freedom levels based on two main categories: Political Rights and Civil Liberties, with 40 points allocated for Political Rights and 60 points for Civil Liberties, totaling 100 points. China’s scores: Political Rights: -2; Civil Liberties: 11; Total Score: 9. This low score confirms China’s classification as a "Not Free" country.

In 2023, China also scored 9 points, and the report highlights how Beijing’s authoritarian regime has become increasingly repressive in recent years. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to tighten control over various aspects of life and governance, including: State bureaucracy、Media and online speech、Religious activities、Universities、Businesses、Civil society organizations.

Tibet Scores 0, Classified as a "Not Free" Region

The report also notes that China’s civil society has been nearly wiped out after years of crackdowns on political dissent, independent NGOs, and human rights defenders. Regarding Tibet, the report assigned: Political Rights: -2、Civil Liberties: 2、Total Score: 0. This places Tibet in the "Not Free" category.

Hong Kong Scores 40, Listed as "Partly Free" Political Rights: 9、Civil Liberties: 31、Total Score: 40. Hong Kong is classified as a "Partly Free" region. The report highlights that Hong Kong has experienced one of the most significant declines in freedom worldwide over the past decade.

It points out that Beijing has strengthened its control over Hong Kong, and in recent years, many actions once considered expressions of political dissent have been criminalized under the National Security Law. Key cases include: The pro-democracy primaries case, where dozens of activists were convicted of conspiracy to subvert state power and sentenced to prison. Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Digital (Apple Daily), currently on trial for alleged violations of the National Security Law. Additionally, some judges who resigned from Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal have stated that judges face immense pressure to align with the government’s suppression of dissent, thereby undermining Hong Kong’s rule of law.