August 1, 2005
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The China Way
This is an interesting article to me because I’ve been reading Fareed Zakaria’s The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad. I believe China is on the correct path, and the challenges truly lie ahead in the next 5 – 10 years.
August 1, 2005
China Tells Citizens Not to Test the Law
By JIM YARDLEY
BEIJING, July 31 – The Chinese government has warned citizens that
they must obey the law and that any threats to social stability will
not be tolerated, a sign that top leaders are growing increasingly
worried about unrest in the countryside.
The warning came in a front-page commentary published last Thursday in
People’s Daily, the chief mouthpiece of the Communist Party.
“Protecting stability comes before all else,” it cautioned. “Any
behavior that wrecks stability and challenges the law will directly
damage the people’s fundamental interests.”
The editorial was also notable in what was omitted, namely any
reference to President Hu Jintao’s signature catchphrase, “harmonious
society.” Implicit in that phrase is the idea that the lopsided
excesses and widespread corruption of rapid development must be
corrected.
But the editorial said widening inequality was an inevitable phase of
development. “It is unavoidable that different people and different
groups enjoy the fruits of reform and development to differing
degrees,” it said.
No group is enjoying fewer of those fruits than peasants. Recently,
2,000 farmers in Inner Mongolia demonstrated to try to block local
officials from seizing their land.
Joseph Fewsmith, a professor of international relations and political
science at Boston University, said the populist image projected by Mr.
Hu and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was not reflected in recent moves. In
February, the leadership made it much more difficult for peasants to
file grievances with the government.
