On March 2 and 3, 2024, we—people from all walks of life who have long been committed to China’s cause of freedom and democracy—reached the following consensus after careful discussion regarding the future process of democracy in China and the plan for building a democratic China
1. Currently, the CCP’s authoritarian rule is fraught with internal and external difficulties. Xi Jinping’s dictatorship is strengthening the totalitarian system, intensifying the trend of major changes in China, and providing an opportunity for China’s democratization. At this critical moment, those concerned about China’s democratization should seriously study China’s situation and the lessons learned from countries around the world, and propose plans and approaches to rebuild China’s constitutional political system.
2. Democratic nation-building must first overthrow the CCP’s tyranny, establish a free, equal, just, and harmonious civil society, encourage and promote various forms of grassroots resistance struggles, support rebellions, mutinies, and coups aimed at ending tyranny, encourage professional organizations and institutions to participate in the movement, call on the military and police to stand together with the people, and call on conscientious party and government leaders within the ruling group to decisively end CCP tyranny and respond to the people’s demands for democratization.
3. After the end of tyranny, all sectors should consult to establish a provisional government to temporarily manage state affairs, abolish the CCP’s position in all state apparatus, release all prisoners of conscience held by the CCP, take over the archives of CCP institutions committing tyranny and atrocities, maintain economic and social operations, hold roundtable meetings, draft a new constitution, elect a new government according to the new law to take over the government, and complete the transition of old and new state power.
4. Newly democratic countries shall respect and safeguard the civil rights stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, prohibit violations of citizens’ freedoms of speech, publication, journalism, association, assembly, and demonstration, strictly prohibit infringement of personal freedom, freedom of religious belief, and property ownership, especially legislating to protect farmers’ land rights and entrepreneurs’ property rights; private property must not be infringed upon.
5. The government of democratic China must be elected openly, equally, and by rules by citizens, governing according to law. Government institutions imposed on the people without the direct or indirect authorization of citizens are considered tyranny. When the legal channels for government replacement are blocked, citizens have the right to overthrow tyranny.
6. The government of democratic China implements the separation of powers according to constitutional principles. The state governance apparatus, including the police, remains neutral in political life, and no party may operate within the institutions of state governance. Government agencies administer according to law, strictly prohibiting abuse of power and forcing citizens to comply with illegal decrees.
7. Judicial independence in democratic China guarantees citizens’ basic rights and maintains normal social functioning. Everyone is equal before the law. When rights are violated, citizens can seek judicial remedies. Strictly prohibit manipulation of the judiciary.
8. Democratic China implements nationalization of its military, safeguards national sovereignty and territorial integrity, resists foreign aggression, and unites democratic countries to maintain world peace as its three fundamental tasks. The military remained politically neutral and was not allowed to participate in politics; soldiers were not allowed to join political parties. The title was changed to the National Defense Force, with an elected president as the supreme commander of the military. The Armed Police were reorganized into local guards, maintaining local order in peacetime and incorporated into the National Defense Force during wartime.
9. The government of democratic China maintains the healthy and just operation of the economy and finance, establishes a reasonable social security system, promotes the development of science, education, culture, health, and ecological protection, and safeguards fair development opportunities for citizens. Democratic China protects the rights of vulnerable groups and promotes equal sharing of development and participation opportunities among ethnic groups and communities.
10. Democratic China cooperates with the liberal democratic camp, actively participates in maintaining a rules-based international order, combats international terrorism and authoritarian forces, and supports the global development of democracy and freedom.
We hope people from all walks of life will recognize our declaration and sign your names! We will announce further follow-up arrangements.
He was a delegate to the first National Affairs Conference of the Chinese democracy movement
March 3, 2024
Signed in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States