A literature review of the current consideration of animals in China

Abstract

China’s approach and attitudes towards the consideration of nonhuman animals are increasingly important, both domestically and internationally. Therefore, it is important that animal advocates understand Chinese attitudes towards animals and research ways to incorporate concern for wild animal suffering in the country’s animal advocacy movement. This review sought to shed light on these questions through an examination of both Chinese and English academic literature. The review shows a significant increase in the literature with respect to the consideration of animals in China. It also reveals a nascent academic debate between defenders and critics of speciesist ideas. The review indicates that there are limited Chinese laws protecting animals. Nonetheless, the Chinese public seems increasingly receptive to animal advocacy. The literature also indicates that China’s own philosophical traditions, such as Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, could provide the grounding for arguments in support of the moral consideration of animals used to promote such a change. In the case of wild animal suffering, the literature does not indicate any awareness of this cause area as yet. In fact, there is a common confusion between species conservation and the protection of wild animals. As it happens in other countries, wild animals are typically not identified as individuals with a wellbeing. However, the case of animals regarded as charismatic may provide an opportunity to introduce the concept of wild animal suffering among the Chinese public and authorities, as well as methods to research the welfare of animals living in the wild. Other questions remain to be explored using different methods, like interviews to key agents in the field.