I think the Chinese people are finally starting to see the end of that long dark tunnel theyve been in, and I wish them the best in that regard.
As do I. The problem is that in propping up the old guard by trade, we stave off the collaps of communism. It was the arms race with the Soviets that ended communist rule. We shouldn’t put the cart before the horse, trade should be conditional.
Correct.
While I also yearn for things to change in China, I won't let my hopes render me blind to the realities on the ground.
Don't assume the property-rights "legislation" is any more than lip service to keep a lid on things. This is in part how the Chi-Comms have adeptly co-opted all reform to keep their agenda and malice safely ensconced. Note, no "constitutional" amendments are pending. Ergo, nothing will actually happen on the ground.
I’m not too worried about propping up the old guard because I don’t know that we are propping them up. It seems to me that the Chinese people are rebelling against the old guard in subtle and not so subtle ways, even though China is experiencing economic success. I think the Chinese people understand that it is not communism that is providing them with this success, it is their own hard work and industry. They’re chipping away at their government, basically telling the government to leave them alone and let them prosper. The Chinese people want more rights, more freedom, and they’re making that known. The old guard are dying off and being replaced by people more likely to have caught the capitalism/democracy/freedom bug. I think it is entirely possible that if we lean on the Chinese government too hard though we’ll only turn the Chinese people against us, putting them more on common footing with the old guard. What we do to China in the way of trade sanctions and so on hurts the Chinese people, and they’ll stand with their government against us when push comes to shove.