China today ranks as one of the countries in the world with the very lowest levels of political freedom and freedom of expression, according to advocacy group Freedom House’s annual “Freedom in the World” report released on Feb. 24. On a list of 210 countries and territories ranked according to freedom of speech, the right to political participation, and equality before the law, China achieved a score of just 9 out of a possible 100, and the designation “not free.” China’s score is lower than that given to Sudan, which enjoys a 10, and Iran, a 14, and is the same given to such states as Libya, Myanmar, and Azerbaijan. Just over a dozen countries had lower scores, including Syria (1), Turkmenistan (2), North Korea (3), Eritrea (3), Equatorial Guinea (5), the Central African Republic (7), and Saudi Arabia (7). Setting forth its reasons for China’s ranking, Freedom House said …