US policies pose challenge for Communist Party

Straits Times ^ | 08/14/04 | Jason Leow

[TigerLikesRooster]

US policies pose challenge for Communist Party

A senior Central Party School official warns of a future for Chinese diplomacy that is fraught with conflict and friction

By Jason Leow

BEIJING - The Communist Party's 'serious test and challenge' in the coming years will be American unilateralism and its 'new interventionist ideology', a senior official at the Central Party School has warned.

The party's legitimacy will also rest on how it keeps faith with socialist practices against the growing capitalist creed, Mr Yu Yunyao, the school's administrative vice-president, wrote in an official journal.

In Outlook Weekly, a journal by the state-run Xinhua news agency, Mr Yu forecast a future for Chinese diplomacy fraught with 'conflict' and 'friction'.

The future's central theme will be globalisation, a 'doubled-edged sword' for developing countries, he said.

'Different economies, political systems, diplomacies and security structures depend on each other, but they also restrain each other,' he wrote in the journal that often reveals insights into party and government thinking.

That thinking reflects deep-seated suspicion of the United States, reinforced when the US went to war with Iraq last year without United Nations approval and recently bolstered by proposed US weapons sales to Taiwan.

'The US is entering a new round of expansionism, keenly seeking long-term global hegemony, promoting unilateralism and advocating new interventionist ideology and pre-emptive actions,' he said.

Mr Yu leads the Central Party School where senior government and party cadres are trained.

In the past year, scholars and the media have called into question the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has 68 million cadres.

In foreign affairs, the public has watched closely how senior party leaders respond to the Taiwan issue and US support for pro-independence forces.

Some feel the leaders have been too soft on both counts.

When US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice made her trip last month to Beijing, President Hu Jintao and military chief Jiang Zemin had tough words for her, collectively warning the US not to 'send the wrong signals' to Taiwan.

They also reminded the US to commit to the 'one China' policy and drop weapons sales to Taiwan. Their toughness earned cheers from political pundits.

Domestically, official corruption has made ordinary citizens cynical about the party's claims to serve the people and promote clean governance.

In the first six months of this year, China's Supreme People's Procuratorate investigated more than 21,000 graft cases. The problem worsened from last year.

Highlighting the crisis, Mr Yu said the low quality of cadres was a serious deficiency for the party.

There was a need not only to inculcate the right values in cadres but also to educate them about the law and governance.

'Leadership and governance reinforce each other. They are not mutually exclusive - our leaders' status is determined by how they govern the country's affairs,' he said.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[coconutt2000]

Damned Chinese Communist Cry Babies...


They're upset because Bush's policies threaten their plans to invade Taiwan... because they are an expansionist nation.


Their buildup of missiles and Navy are probably in anticipation of a Kerry win for the Presidency.

[ken21]

"'The US is entering a new round of expansionism, keenly seeking long-term global hegemony, promoting unilateralism and advocating new interventionist ideology and pre-emptive actions,' he said. "

if your wife is buying lots of stuff over at wal-mart, it's time for some political education.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

When one chinese owns private property, the Communist Party's day's are numbered. Castro understands this.

[coconutt2000]

I agree. I've been telling people for a couple of years that China's economic reforms is creating the most dangerous thing in an authoritarian communist state... A growing middle class.

I've also mentioned that there are two ways that the Chinese can head off an internal problem... That's by waging an external war... Or, regressing and backing away from the technological society they were so bent on building.

A communist authoritarian state reaches a point where it must balance economic growth with rapid expansion and conquest.

And yes, I'm talking out of my....

[Shaddap IV]

BEIJING - The Communist Party's 'serious test and challenge' in the coming years will be American unilateralism and its 'new interventionist ideology', a senior official at the Central Party School has warned. >>>

Translation: "We're going to have to abandon our plans to invade Taiwan. Damn! What are we gonna do with all these teenaged males who can't get a date then?"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My dad was an old China hand, worked for Otis Elevator as a young man, then worked for China National Airlines Company (part of American Airlines at that time). He always said the Chinese are too much of a merchant class to put up with rigid Communism for more than 50 years. He wasn't far wrong.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Didn't Germany also have a big middle class during the 1930s,but yet Adolf Hitler was the most popular leader around at that time,despite the obvious aggressive & fascist ideology he embraced-why???because his administration delivered massive economic growth & also "restored" German(Aryan) pride-Id say China more or less,belongs to this category.

The Middle classes during the Russian revolution,French revolution or the Indian Independence struggle all came to the forefront due to extreme economic or social problems they & wider society faced.Because a lot of Chinese have economically prospered under the Communist system with land reforms & massive reductions in poverty from a feudal set up-why should they go against the system-afterall most of us think first about money & only then self respect or even our conscience.The way the communists have meshed their version of imperialism with Chinese nationalism(Tibet,Hong Kong,Taiwan) is very popular with most of the Chinese people-if not,why do many of them see Taiwan as an integral part of China & are not averse to the use of force.

You are right on the use of war to keep control.But war is also the only sure device for a nation to ascend to the post of Superpower & now that China feels it's moment is around the corner with it's rapid economic & military development,They are making all these noises on Taiwan(& will probably carry out their threat).Afterall who would have cared about the US ,if it didn't hit Iraq or even participate in the 2nd world war?? in short ,war is the only vehicle for the rise of a super power.

[struwwelpeter]

I thought this article on China in a Russian newspaper was interesting:

(4)"Today" Tuesday 25 May PEOPLE AND REGIME (political section: tel 457-24-10)

"KYIV" TO BECOME A DISNEYLAND - Aircraft carrier sold for scrap will bring profit to Chinese businessmen. (picture)

o ABROAD: The Nikolaevskiy-buit aircraft carrier "Kyiv" became the main attraction in the huge Chinese "military Disneyland", while Ukrainian and Chinese entrepreneurs agreed to build a "Ukrainian street" in the amusement park.

In 2000 the vessel was sold to China for scrap, according to various sources, for $8-16 million. Now the businessmen over there aren't just meeting expenses, but even making a profit.

The former aircraft carrier, already 32 years old, was docked in the Yellow Sea by the city of Tyan'tsin' (10 million inhabitants) and doesn't resemble in the slightest its registered description. The Chinese completely reconstructed the decks (the military equipment was removed before sale) and placed there four jet fighters from that period. In all, the investors spent about $300 million, but now they will use the monies they receive to build a kind of "military Disneyland", the center of which will be the Kyiv. Five hectares are planned with BTRs, anti-aircraft weapons, and other vehicles. There will also be a waterpark and other amusement complexes.

For now the only thing visible is the Yellow Sea (named for its color), the aircraft carrier, some big bill-boards, and a lot of junk. But there's no doubt that the Chinese will build everything as planned. During a tour of Peking our guide proudly showed us a nice nine-story building and said: "This is the oldest building in the city center, it's already 13 years old." Of course, he didn't mean historical places, but the speed with which the Chinese think, work, generate ideas upon which they can make money - for which they can be rightly proud.

The head of the investment company which owns the amusement park, Chzhen Zheyfu, didn't hide the fact the the project was practically paid off and was turning a profit. Now his company is getting ready to sell land (that same five hectares) for various park structures. There will be a "Ukrainian street" with souveniers and quite likely a Ukrainian restaurant. While the local authorities promised to to build a highway from Peking straight to the "Happy Port" (as the Chinese have named the future complex). A trip from the capital would take about two hours. Of course, Ukrainians would have to fly nine hours to get to Peking, for $580 round trip.

It could be a bit quicker if there weren't such problems in Ukrainian and Russian airline cooperation. "Today" has already written about how the Unified Economic Area (EEhP) between our countries would be more advantageous to the Ukraine, and so many Russian companies and their lobbyists are against it. In our case the airline Aerosvit must fly to China via Turkey, the Caucasus, the Caspian Sea, and Kazakhstan, instead of flying direct over Russia. According to unofficial sources, the Russian airline Aeroflot sees a serious competitor in the Ukrainian airline and demands huge sums for using their routes. Now our companies are trying to ward off the Russians through similar discriminatory practices, contrary to the agreement in the EEhP. Aeroflot is persisting. We'll see what will happen later.

Three pieces of advice from "Today"

If you're getting ready to go to China, remember: 1: From 11 PM to 7 AM almost nothing is open in Peking. The Chinese sleep, even the airport Duty Free is closed, so buy your souveniers early. 2: Changing your money to Yuans is usually possible in the airport or most hotels, but changing your money back is almost impossible, so exchange only as much as you will be spending. 3: Beer is often sold warm in China, don't bother asking for it to be chilled, because they'll just toss ice in the mug. Aleksey GAZUBEY "Today"

If this is communism, I'm confused.

[struwwelpeter]

My bad, it was a Russian-language Ukrainian paper.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #10

Thanks for your translated article. That was interesting. I hope you can bring another surprise additions like this in the future if you have spare time.:)

[Paul Ross]

The head of the investment company which owns the amusement park, Chzhen Zheyfu, didn't hide the fact the the project was practically paid off and was turning a profit.

Interesting that the whole project was run by the PLAN...and kept under MILITARY-DISTRICT secrecy. Suddenly, out of the blue, they announce mega-profits, as if they are a glorifiied Six Flags...that surely EVERYONE must have heard about... NOT! And the notion that a bunch of people earning $2 a day can repay the $340 million this puppy cost the "investors" is seriously beyond credulity... This sounds like a typical military "COVER STORY". Pardon my cynicism.

[struwwelpeter]

I didn't write it the article. I just thought it was interesting - especially from a former commie periodical. Anyhow, I lean towards your assessment more than theirs.

The money for the aircraft carrier was probably some UN-EU-IMF grant that was fungibled over to reverse-engineering studies of megaships.

Judging from how the Soviets loved to "cook their books" when it came to economic data, I've a feeling the PRC isn't long from a reality check like Gorby got in 1989. Too bad that so many companies rushed into their pyramid scheme - when PRC's house of cards comes crashing down, it's going to pull a lot of international investors with it.

[GOP_1900AD]

Plus, they've already done whatever reverse engineering they planned to do. The thing to be watching, is what gets built indigenously in Shanghai. Newsflash - I live near one of the highest volume bulk ports in the US. It was not always this way. The reason for this port's rise is that there is now a nearly endless stream of Russian and Chinese bulk freighters loading up with scrap metal, destination Shanghai.

[struwwelpeter]

The term "scrap metal" brings to mind an image of pre-Pearl Harbor Japan.

[Paul Ross]

The term "scrap metal" brings to mind an image of pre-Pearl Harbor Japan.

Indeed. The parallel is too compelling to be blithely disregarded by military intel.

[GOP_1900AD]

Bump.