本文主旨在探討胡錦濤、溫家寶的施政綱領，從而瞭解其對人權的基本立場。胡、溫執政十年，經濟發展方面頗多建樹，但領導階層無意放棄中共對權力的壟斷。胡、溫的方程式是經濟成長，再加覆蓋全民的社會保障網，以及沒有民主的良治。中國領導階層瞭解急速經濟發展對社會穩定會造成極大衝擊，社會一旦經濟起飛，人民會有種新的訴求，當這些訴求難以滿足，就會產生不滿，影響社會穩定性。一方面是既得利益的阻撓，但領導階層同樣不願意一黨專政受到輿論和人大系統的有力制衡。結果是胡、溫主政初期，媒體和各級人大尚有多少進步，但自北京奧運迄今，整個政治生態是收緊了，而不是趨於寬鬆。在是收緊的政治環境下，異見分子和維權運動受到更大的壓力。中國領導階層顯然是希望形成一種嚇阻作用。從劉曉波的得獎，到艾未未、陳光誠等事件，均可以看到中國領導階層願意付出國際形象受損的代價，以維持這種恐嚇力量。一方面花費鉅資開拓中國的軟實力，另一方面願意接受國際形象受損，這自然是基於優先次序的考慮，畢竟打擊對一黨專政的威脅最為重要。

This article aims to understand the Hu Jintao administration's position on human rights through an examination of its policy programmes. Chinese leaders understand that rapid economic development has a severe impact on social stability. Vested interests pose resistance to liberalization; but the leadership is also reluctant to accept effective checks and balances mechanisms limiting the Party regime. As a result, media freedom and the role of the people's congress system expanded little in the initial years of the Hu administration. In this context, dissidents and the human rights movement have encountered greater pressure. The Chinese authorities intend to create a deterrence effect. From the boycott of Liu Xiaobo's Nobel peace prize to the suppression of Ai Weiwei and Chen Guangcheng, Chinese leaders are willing to pay the price in terms of damages to China's intentional image to maintain the deterrence. While China spends substantial resources to develop its soft power, it accepts the tarnishment of China's image, thus reflecting the regime's priorities. After all, suppressing the threats to the Party regime is regarded most important.