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A new surge of demands for liberal political reform added an unexpected twist to deliberations at today's annual policy making meeting for leaders from the ruling Communist Party of China.
Leading the charge has been Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who has repeatedly, if cautiously, argued the need for political change in recent months.
One letter, a remarkable plea by 23 former senior officials, including a former secretary to Mao Zedong, urged an end to press censorship. Another, signed by a wide range of liberal intellectuals, called for the release of imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo, who last week won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Source: Christian Science Monitor
The press here in the West may be skeptical, but I think this kind of pressure will have a major impact. Many groups have been pushing reform from within the government and from outside the government. China's next generation of leaders seem to be more liberal-minded and that probably means we will see more notable reforms. Of course, one should dispel the notion that they will ever adopt the system of Western democracy as other nations in the region have.
Well, I continue to voice that China's current capitalistic path will force it to address its social issues. It simply cannot sustain past social prescriptions while embracing westernized economic bases. The world would benefit from an American/Chinese team. The future threat in the world will not be in China. It will be elsewhere.
I completely agree. In the short term, I think a lot of Westerners will be disappointed when individual initiatives like this (probably) don't get very far. But in the grander scheme of things, China is clearly on a path toward more openness and liberalization. It seems like there aren't many countries that are much wealthier than China currently is, that aren't at least semi-democratic. Authoritarian rule is fine when countries are developing from dirt-poor to middle-class (and it may even help), but beyond that it's a hindrance. Economic development and political liberalization seem to go hand in hand. China cannot hope to continue developing as quickly as it has been, if it censors the internet and the press.
China cannot hope to continue developing as quickly as it has been, if it censors the internet and the press.
Well, I continue to voice that China's current capitalistic path will force it to address its social issues. It simply cannot sustain past social prescriptions while embracing westernized economic bases. The world would benefit from an American/Chinese team. The future threat in the world will not be in China. It will be elsewhere.
And I don't think we (as a government) are far at all from embracing the idea of an American/Chinese united front in this world. Both sides see it. Ralph Peters (if you are familiar with him) has been writing on this for over a decade. He has constantly talked about the need for China to develop its social prescriptions in order to meet its capitalistic and industrializing demands.
Source: Christian Science Monitor
The press here in the West may be skeptical, but I think this kind of pressure will have a major impact. Many groups have been pushing reform from within the government and from outside the government. China's next generation of leaders seem to be more liberal-minded and that probably means we will see more notable reforms. Of course, one should dispel the notion that they will ever adopt the system of Western democracy as other nations in the region have.
Read up on....China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao
'China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao' -- Yu Jie's banned book on sale in Hong Kong | CNNGo.com
Grandpa Jiabao is nothing, but a decoy. Hu Jintao tells the clown Jiabao what, when, where and how say things
Read up on....China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao
'China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao' -- Yu Jie's banned book on sale in Hong Kong | CNNGo.com
Grandpa Jiabao is nothing, but a decoy. Hu Jintao tells the clown Jiabao what, when, where and how say things
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