Posted on 02/28/2007 1:28:24 AM PST by MadIvan
China's prime minister promised to maintain "socialism for 100 years" yesterday as the Communist Party tried to play down media discussion of political reform.
"We must keep a firm grasp on the basic principles of the Party in the initial stage of socialism, without wavering, for 100 years," Wen Jiabao, said in an article reproduced in the People's Daily newspaper and other centrally-controlled state media.
Dampening hopes both of Chinese dissidents and of governments abroad that have called for faster political change, he said that while democracy was necessary it could only come about on the party's terms and when the socialist system was "mature". He said that in the meantime China had to focus on economic development.
The publication of what was clearly intended as a heavyweight contribution to the country's political debates was unexpected, particularly since Mr Wen is normally in charge of the day-to-day running of China rather than longer-term speculation about its future.
But the coming annual session of the Chinese parliament and expected changes to the top leadership in the autumn, at the five-yearly Communist Party Congress, have triggered speculation at home and abroad on the prospects for political change.
In contrast to the tighter rein imposed on the media in recent years, some liberal journalists, as well as academics, have been unusually open in calling for political reforms to match China's enormous economic changes.
Earlier this month, Zhou Ruijin, a retired deputy editor of the People's Daily, gave an interview to a provincial paper calling for the expansion of direct elections.
"China has been bogged down in a mess of contradictions and disputes," he said. "What I've proposed is that political reform should precede all other reforms of the government administration."
To some extent the government has encouraged this openness, by describing corruption and other forms of illegal behaviour by party officials as China's gravest social crisis and saying that they had to be made more accountable.
Billions of dollars embezzled and stolen every year by party cadres.
And there are thousands of protests every years over illegal land grabs for development and failure to protect the environment and the livelihoods of those affected.
With a growing capitalist-style class system, there is also little evidence of socialism in current economic realities.
But Mr Wen insisted that socialism was still the party's goal, and that it could reform itself from within.
"We have not built up a democratic legal system — social unfairness, corruption and other problems still exist and the socialist system is not yet mature," he admitted.
But he then reiterated China's standard formulation for rejecting Western-style reform. "China must walk its own way in terms of building a democratic system," he said.
Mr Wen is seen as the most liberal in the politburo, and is its only member to regularly meet the Western press.
His promises that China would expand democracy are often quoted favourably by Western politicians who support greater engagement with Beijing, among them Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, on his last visit to Beijing in September 2005.
His words may be intended to show that even he believes any profound reform of the system will come later rather than sooner.
The idea of socialism having "initial stages" is taken from the words of the former leader Deng Xiaoping, who began China's economic reforms but still insisted on the primacy of Communist Party rule.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
It makes sense to them.
Regards, Ivan
A politicians promise is an evidence to you ?
Regards, Ivan
China is holding itself back by holding on to Communism. I wonder when they'll figure it out?
" With a growing capitalist-style class system, there is also little evidence of socialism in current economic realities. "
That's from the article and that's what I think.
And the correction in the stock market: The Hang Seng is at 19600 it was at 15000 last summer
This was a correction. Nothing surprising - nothing catastrophic and of course nothing that would indicate the failure of the chineese economy.
It's quite daring to stick that to a speak that contained no surprises, nothing new and was good only for inducing sleepyness.
China has many probs:
They have a human rights problem, they have an economic problem and they have a demoscopic problem, they may have a problem with dollar bonds in future times...
But up to now they are doing way better then India (wich failed expectations in BIP rise )
AMATUERS!
Well, it's a progress...
Only 100 years (like the lease to UK on Hong Kong), and downgrading Communism to socialism (fascist version, maybe?) not full-fledged Communism? Then what?
About fifteen years before Soviet Union fell apart, in 1970s, well before "glasnost" and "perestroika" they changed their tune from Communism and started emphasizing "advanced socialism". I see a similarity...
Well, after the socialist phase, the glorious age of true Communism will be ushered in.
Marxism 101.
From Communism to True Communism via detour through some form of socialism (fascism?)... Cool! Let's try all the flavors!
I don't mind them experimenting, as long as we can stop "Long March" to socialism here at home.
well at least its not 1000 year Reich yet
Leopards can't change their spots and neither will communist power holders who have military control.
The corruption there sounds a lot like our democrats, of course.
ping
Nothing more and nothing less.
The Red Commies backed off, so guess the market will go up...
In 2016 America will celebrate 100 years of socialism. And If we continue to import socialists from Europe and Mexico we can look forward to 100 more years of goosestepping collectivism and the destruction of individual rights.
Cheers!
The corruption there does sound a lot like our own loathesome Democrats. Stealing land. Missing money. It all has that familiar ring.
Maybe now we know why Congress travels so often -- they've been learning at the feet of the master.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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