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| November 21, 2002
CHINA PARTY CONGRESS: TRANSITION BUT NO CHANGE
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November 21, 2002
CHINA PARTY CONGRESS: TRANSITION BUT NO CHANGE
KEY FINDINGS:
** There is widespread
agreement that China has "a self-contradictory system...open for economics
but politically closed."
** Many perceive Jiang
Zemin to be in a "more dominant position" after the Congress.
** Most papers downplayed
hopes for drastic reforms under Hu Jintao's ostensible rule.
** Some see communism as
"evaporating" due to the upsurge of "pragmatic capitalism."
MAJOR THEMES
New leader Hu Jintao must reconcile Communist Party's 'grip on
political and economic power' with 'emerging market economy'-- Many dailies highlighted the contradiction in
China's policies: Even though "the
freedom to choose is central in a market economy," Hu's Communist Party is
"using all its force to cling to power." Japan's leftist Asahi opined that
"China has transformed itself in remarkable ways" but that
"politics have remained...untouched."
Most predicted the "anachronistic concentration of political
power" will remain even as the country continues "ongoing economic
reforms." The liberal Taipei
Times went so far as to declare that "China is now more capitalist
than many capitalist countries."
Jiang Zemin actually in a 'more dominant position'-- Asian and European observers agreed that despite
the transition, "there has actually not been a change in
leadership." An independent Hong
Kong paper said "Jiang is the one who makes the decisions...like a
superintendent overseeing Hu Jintao."
Due to the number of key allies Jiang retains in the new Politburo, he
"will play the role of eminence grise" even though Hu "might be
the official new face." A centrist
German daily concluded "it will be years before [Hu] actually governs."
'There is very little hope for fundamental political
reforms'-- The Communist Party
seems to lack "any willingness to relax its political monopoly." Hu
represents what a Thai daily called "new leaders but the same old
China." Norway's social democratic Dagsavisen
highlighted Beijing's continued emphasis on "social peace and
stability." An Indian observer
agreed, noting that "no protest or agitation...against this autocracy by
the Chinese people is in sight."
China 'emerging as the other major global power'-- Despite the "authoritarian grip" on
political power, most papers acknowledged China's growing economic muscle. A Hungarian daily supposed China will become
the "world's leading economic power soon," while India's
Urdu-language Milap more soberly recognized its "overall impressive
economic growth." Simultaneously,
many noted the "formidable array of problems" facing China, including
"environmental deterioration, depletion of energy resources, rampant
corruption and an exploding population."
Brazil's right-of-center O Globo was one of few to warn of future
unrest, calling the situation "unbearable."
EDITOR: Ben Goldberg
EDITOR'S NOTE: This
analysis is based on 29 reports from 15 countries over 10-19 November. Editorial excerpts from each country are
listed from the most recent date.
EUROPE
GERMANY: "Impressive
Change of Generations"
Kathrin Hille maintained in an editorial in business-oriented Financial
Times Deutschland of Hamburg (11/18):
"Hu would not have received his new office without Jiang Zemin's
support, and he cannot decide anything without or against him.... Nevertheless, Beijing has managed to stage an
impressive change of generations: The new Central Committee is as young as
never before. It is well-educated and
accepts the need for economic reform....
The new Politburo also gives rise to hope.... However, the times in which good leadership
was enough are drawing to a close. The
mismanagement of state-run businesses, corruption at all levels, and the
banking scandals have made one thing clear - precise rules backed by law and
independent institutions make a better state than powerful leaders. Some of the new political leaders allegedly
understand the need for political reform.
If they manage to establish clear rules and to strengthen the
institutions over the next five years, the country will take a large step
forward."
"Long Live The Emperor"
Harald Mass stated in an editorial in centrist Der Tagesspiegel
of Berlin (11/16): "Hu is China's new
face, but it will be years before he actually governs. Jiang Zemin has made a pact with the
people: The party provides a bit of
affluence and stability; the people refrain from calling the party's power into
question. China has experienced an unprecedented
economic upswing over the past decade....
While the country has become richer, it has also become more
unjust. Millions of peasants and workers
are barely hanging on. Paralyzed by
corruption and nepotism, the political system cannot handle the social
tension. A growing number of
demonstrations and uprisings reveals that China's social balance is under
pressure. Jiang Zemin made the mistake
of allowing economic reform without also embracing political reform."
"Capitalism Or Communism"
Center-right Westfalenblatt of Bielefeld had this to say
(11/15): "Capitalism or communism? The
Chinese Communist Party resolved the question in its own way. Mao's blue worker's dress was widened to such
a degree in Beijing that even China's capitalists will now be able to find room
under it. But the cloak has not been
widened to such a degree that civil rights activists, dissidents, Falun Gong
supporters, or disciples of the Dalai Lama will find room under it. The Communist Party is using all its force to
cling to power with the support of a repression apparatus that has developed
over the past few decades. Too much is
not in order behind the advanced glass facades in China. We do not envy Hu Jintao, the new man at
China's top."
ITALY: "Jiang (Zeming) Hands
China Over To Capitalism"
Renato Ferraro reported from Beijing in centrist, top-circulation Corriere
della Sera (11/15): "For the first
time in history the tune of the International (anthem) welcomed managers and
capitalists into a Communist party. In
Beijing's Peoples Palace, under red flags and hammer and sickle symbols, an era
finished yesterday: the largest Communist Party in the world...has changed
color, although it didn't openly say it.
The Party has admitted private entrepreneurs and has also introduced
into its statute a spirit 'of avant-guard of the production process.'... At the sixteenth Congress of the Chinese
Communist Party, two thousand delegates voted unanimously the reform of its
statute: they are no longer the representatives of only the working-class, but
of all (Chinese) people and first of all of those who know how to do business
and how to create wealth."
HUNGARY: "The New Chinese
Generation Is Here"
Foreign affairs writer Peter Barabas declared in pro-government
center-left Hungarian-language Nepszava (11/14): "The good old Chinese leaders will be
conducting the affairs only from the background. A big leap or a spectacular change of course
can't be expected. What can be expected
is that the new generation of leaders will be (or at least they try to be) more
dynamic in conducting their affairs. It
would greatly help the Chinese economy if it were to become more open and China
became the world's leading economic power soon.
China has all the resources for that."
IRELAND: "Change In
China"
The liberal Irish Times editorialized (11/18): "Despite some changes in doctrine and
ideology, there is a much more substantial continuity of policy coming out of
this congress. China faces formidable problems in harnessing market-based
development to one-party control....
China's wider system of governance also faces many problems.
Privatisation has encouraged corruption, cynicism and careerism among party
ranks, which affect its capacity to mobilise support and command authority - as
well as also affecting the ability of the central state to collect taxes from
increasingly autonomous regions. These problems will confront the new party
leadership in coming years. There is no sign of any willingness to relax its
political monopoly. Party leaders are determined to avoid the political chaos
and collapse which broke up the Soviet Union. So far they have done so
successfully, but the challenge remains."
NETHERLANDS: "Chinese
Acrobatics"
Influential liberal De Volkskrant opined (11/18): "For the first time since the 1949
revolution, China had a peaceful transition of leadership. A new generation of young, higher educated
politicians took office. One of them is
the 59-year old Hu Jintao.... The main
question is whether communism can be reformed, whether it can be adjusted to
modern times.... Gorbachev made a brave
attempt in the late eighties. He started
with political reforms but lost control of the developments.... The Chinese method works better than that of
Gorbachev... Throughout all changes,
China maintained political and social stability.... The regime in Beijing stretched the ideology
of communism to such an extent that one can wonder whether one can still speak
of communism. While in Russia communism
collapsed, in China communism seems to be evaporating."
"Chinese Feint"
Centrist Algemeen Dagblad declared (11/18): "The Chinese leaders are pleased. For
the first time in history was there a peaceful transition of leadership in the
communist party.... But it was peaceful
because there has actually not been a change in leadership.... Hu Jintao might be the official new face but
Jiang Zemin is still the one in control....
There is very little hope for fundamental political reforms in
China. Hu Jintao will mainly focus on continuity
and implement few changes.... China is
dealing with major problems: growing gap between poor and rich, enormous
corruption... it is important to resolve these problems and in doing so it is
essential to make Chinese politics more flexible, more creative, and
particularly more transparent. We don't
have to expect such measures from leaders such as Jiang and Hu."
NORWAY: "The 'Mandate From
Heaven' In New Hands"
In social democratic Dagsavisen, journalist Erik Selmer commented
(11/15): "We in the west have for a long
time had expectations that China some day will have a political system similar
to ours. The most important thing for China, and possibly also for us, is that
China find its own way with a model that combines development with allocation
of resources and that ensures social peace and stability. Then there will be a
possibility that more freedom will gradually evolve."
ASIA-PACIFIC
CHINA: "Pushing Peace And
Development"
The official English-language China Daily commented (11/15): "From a strategic, long-term perspective,
China has furthered Sino-U.S. relations in spite of obstacles. The two
countries have confirmed their mutual important responsibilities to safeguard
world peace and promote common development and have agreed to advance Sino-U.S.
constructive and co-operative relations.
China has stressed the United States should observe the principles
contained in the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiqués and honor its commitments on
the Taiwan question. The United States is committed to adhering to the
principles contained in the three communiqués, the one-China policy and opposes
'Taiwan independence'. During the past
13 years, in the struggle to throw off sanctions imposed on China by Western
countries, in the struggle against pro- 'Taiwan independence' and separatist
forces and in dealing with the 'embassy bombing' and 'military jet collision'
incidents, China has demonstrated its strong principles while at the same time
showing flexibility in seeking solutions."
CHINA (HONG KONG SAR): "Unfinished Business"
The independent English-language Standard's China Editor,
Cary Huang, wrote in his column 'China Watch' (11/19): "Sino-U.S. relations are the anchor of
Chinese foreign policy and the Taiwan issue is at the core of Sino-U.S.
relations. This also explains why Jiang,
as party, state and army chief, also headed the two most influential party
organs -- the central leading group on foreign affairs and the central leading
group on Taiwan affairs. But when Jiang
retires he will probably hand some unfinished foreign policy missions on to his
successor, Vice-President Hu Jintao, despite swan songs on the domestic and
global stages trumpeting Jiang's accomplishments. These will include the question of Taiwan
and, more broadly, Sino-U.S. relations....
Jiang, also the chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission,
succeeded in keeping each of the crises from boiling over into war and reining
in the 2.5-million strong People's Liberation Army. But major breakthroughs such as a visit to
Taiwan -- echoing South Korean President Kim Dae Jung's visit to the North --
have eluded Jiang. He has also failed to
resolve the direct links issue, despite cross-strait trade booming over the
past decade. Given Beijing's obsession
with Taiwan, Sino-U.S. relations are likely to represent one of the toughest
challenges for Jiang's successor."
"Debut"
The independent Chinese-language Ming Pao Daily News
commented (11/16): "Yesterday the
nine members of the new standing committee of the politburo of the Communist
Party of China made their debut. Jiang
Zemin is not among them, but he remains chairman of the military commission of
the CPC central committee. There are
different explanations for this. Is it
true that, for technical reasons, Jiang must not resign the post until the next
National People's Congress session takes place next March? Does he intend to keep the post and continue
to wield power as an ordinary party member?
Jiang's retirement has much to do with the system of the CPC and the
political system of the People's Republic of China. It is a matter of great moment. Beijing has a duty to clear it up and dispel
doubts about the nation's political situation.... On the whole, Jiang deserves much praise and
little criticism for what he has done.
'Small flaws do not mar the jade.'
However, if he sets an example in the transfer of power and retires
after achieving success, he will be seen as a new paragon in CPC history."
"Hu Jintao Gets The Post, But Does Not Yet Have The
Power"
Independent Chinese-language Hong Kong Economic Journal
said (11/16): "What are the changes
before and after the 16th Party Congress?
First of all, Jiang Zemin is in a more dominant position than before the
16th Party Congress, because the former members of the standing committee of
the politburo -- Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan and Wei Jianxing -- are not his
people. And Li Peng could almost be on
an equal footing with him. But now, most
of the members of the new standing committee are his people. Secondly, let's talk allegorically and
pretend that the 15th standing committee of the politburo is a company with one
big shareholder and six small shareholders.
Today Jiang Zemin, as the sole big shareholder, has become the
director. He has employed Hu Jintao as
the chief executive officer and he also has assigned a group of trusted
followers to be in charge of different departments. Jiang is the one who makes the decisions, and
Hu and the other standing committee members are responsible for carrying them
out. Please do not forget that Jiang
Zemin continues to be the chairman of the military commission. He is like a superintendent, overseeing Hu
Jintao."
"New Century, New Group, New Hope"
Pro-PRC Chinese-language Ta Kung Pao remarked in an
editorial (11/16): "From the list
of the new Chinese leaders announced yesterday, people can see that more than
half of the members of the standing committee of the politburo are new
faces. Among the nine standing committee
members, eight of them are new members.
The nucleus of the senior leaders has undergone a smooth
transition. This reflects the foresight,
the political boldness and resolution and the confidence of the Chinese
leaders. In the meantime, it also shows
that the transition of Chinese leaders has gradually become more systematic,
standardized and procedural. The Chinese
Communist Party has become a mature ruling party. The new Chinese leaders are made up people
who are young and intellectual. They
have actual working experience and they are vigorous but mature. They are members of a new leading group who
enjoy popular confidence."
JAPAN: "Mr. Hu At The
Pinnacle Of Power"
The leftist, English-language Japan Times editorialized
(11/19): "Now that the Chinese
Communist Party has completed a smooth leadership transition, the world is
watching how Mr. Hu Jintao, the new party chief, will navigate his one-party
socialist state of 1.3 billion people through the treacherous waters of
globalization. Predicting his future course is complicated by the fact that,
for all the media hoopla about the 59-year-old technocrat, little is known
about his political skills and beliefs....
One problem facing Mr. Hu is that his power base in the party remains
relatively weak. Mr. Jiang, though officially in retirement, has retained his
title as chairman of the Central Military Commission. Moreover, Mr. Jiang has
placed his allies in the all-powerful Standing Committee of the Politburo, thus
effectively ensuring that he will play the role of eminence grise. So it is
likely that, at least for the time being, Mr. Hu will be obliged to follow the
course set by his predecessor.... An
action report adopted by the party conclave calls for a quadrupling of the
gross domestic product by 2020 -- a level of national economic output at which
Chinese society as a whole is predicted to achieve a "fair measure of
leisure." The Beijing think tank that provided an analytical basis for the
report estimates that China's GDP will overtake Japan's around 2030 and equal
America's by the middle of this century.
To achieve sustainable growth, however, China must effectively address a
formidable array of problems, such as environmental deterioration, depletion of
energy resources, rampant corruption and an exploding population."
"China Executes A Peaceful Leadership Change"
A writer for leftist Asahi noted in a column (11/16): "Ten years or so ago, I interviewed a
political scientist at Beijing University. It was a time of smoldering unrest
in China, with the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen
Square still reverberating. Perhaps,
that was what made him wary in his answers. He would not respond to my
questions about contemporary Chinese politics.
China has transformed itself in remarkable ways. The economy has, of course, powered the
transformation. Contrastingly, politics have remained unchanged, untouched by
the wave of change. But this sector has begun moving toward change..... China has had no established rules for
leadership change. This made intense power struggles inevitable whenever the
reigning leader was stepping down. Yet, the latest top-level shift that
promoted Hu Jintao to general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party took
place peacefully."
PHILIPPINES: "Less
Ideological"
Beth Day Romulo wrote in the independent Manila Bulletin
(11/19): "Hu Jintao is expected to
follow Jiang's policies, certainly within his lifetime, as Jiang himself, a
protégé of the visionary Deng Xiaoping, followed his agenda until the leader's
death.... Under President Jiang and
Premier Zhu Ronghzi, China has pursued an agenda of opening up to the outside
world, encouraging investment and privatization.... Jiang is not exactly a charmer, and his
successor Hu Jintao is considered to be even less charismatic than he.... Hu represents the 'fourth generation' of
Chinese leaders who are less ideological than their fiery forebears and more
concentrated on moving China into the globalized society."
"Who Is Hu Jintao They're Scared Of?"
Columnist Jarius Bondoc wrote in the third-leading Philippine
Star (11/14): "Despite being
touted for months as Jiang's successor, Hu has made only one public
pronouncement since January. He was appointed in 1999 as vice chairman of the
Central Military Commission, the chairmanship of which Jiang held as both
general secretary and President. Before that, he was party chief in Tibet. In
1989, the same year of the Tiananmen protests, he imposed martial law in the
mountain province, and led the brutal anti-Chinese unrest. Clearly no liberal,
he. Southeast Asian leaders have a
different concern. They wonder if Hu would abide by the recent thawing of cold
strains over the Spratlys. Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines claim
some of the 100 or so islets that dot the South China Sea. China claims all as
Nansha Islands, as does Taiwan. In the annual ASEAN summit last week in Phnom
Penh, China went along with a code of conduct to avoid military confrontation
in the area. Vietnam had wanted a promise that China wouldn't build any more
military structures that provoke such confrontations. But Prime Minister Zhu
Rongji, though most affable, said no. He could not commit; at 72, he is
retiring with Jiang in March as the latest. So is Li Peng, also 72 and chair of
the National People's Congress. By then Hu and his young team would take full
charge. Will the bespectacled but tough nut pursue warming with ASEAN?"
"Not Compatible"
The editorial of the independent Manila Standard commented
(11/13): "Hu defined the tasks of
China's new rulers -- to fuse market economics with central party
control.... In the post-communist
period, therefore, the main issue would be the inherent conflict -- in fact,
contradiction -- between one-party dictatorship and free enterprise. Without a loosening of the CCP's grip on
political and economic power, China's emerging market economy could
falter.... Also, the key challenges are
the inefficient state enterprises, the migration to the coastal cities of rural
workers and the inability of the state to maintain its welfare system. All this could only grow worse in a largely
market economy. Can the Party ignore
China's 1.3 billion people in the process?
The freedom to choose is central in a market economy. This is not compatible with Jiang's or (Vice
President) Hu's vision of repressive control."
TAIWAN: "Will The CCP
Follow The KMT?"
An editorial in the respected, liberal Taipei Times stated
(11/15): "The Chinese Communist
Party (CCP) concluded its 16th National Congress yesterday, with Vice President
Hu Jintao the only member of the Politburo to keep his post. President Jiang
Zemin and all other central committee members resigned. Now there is no doubt
that Hu will take over as party general secretary. The smooth and orderly
transition of political power is a happy affair for China. Will the CCP follow in the KMT's footsteps?
At this week's congress in Beijing, Jiang's "Three Represents" dictum
was incorporated into the party charter. The dictum labels businesspeople an
"advanced force" on a par with labor and farmers. This has already
sowed the seeds for qualitative change in the party.... The CCP can no longer claim to represent
Maoist proletariat rule after a capitalist market mechanism was incorporated
into "socialism with Chinese characteristics." Given the tremendous
economic developments in Jiang's era, China no longer looks like a communist
state. It uses its cheap labor, abundant resources and a huge market to attract
investment and grab overseas markets. China is now more capitalist than many
capitalist countries."
THAILAND: "New Leaders But
The Same Old China"
The lead editorial in the independent, English-language The
Nation read (11/18): "The fourth
generation of China leaders have been announced after months of secret
negotiations. The names of new leaders
suggest that China will continue with ongoing economic reforms under the
challenged leadership of the Communist Party, without loosening its
authoritarian grip on the political front....
The new leaders inherit one of the world's fastest growing economies,
with trade and foreign investment headed for record highs this year. But ordinary Chinese, who play no part in the
selection of the new leadership, also expect them to address serious problem,
including widespread corruption, widening income gaps and massive layoffs as
state enterprises are pressed to seek profitability."
SOUTH ASIA
INDIA: "The Change In
China"
Independent Urdu-language Milap noted (11/17): "Far more important than the change of
faces at the highest level of the Communist leadership in China, is the formal
transition that has taken place from dogmatic communism to pragmatic capitalism.
Although the liberalization of the economy through promoting private
manufacturing and allowing foreign investment had already been set in motion,
the departure from the old Maoist path has now formally been announced. With
this announcement, China has opened a whole new chapter for itself and the
world. Although the 'freedom of earning money' has been accepted as one of the
fundamental rights of the people, free political participation of the people is
yet to be recognized by the Chinese rulers. They should not however be unaware
of the implicit risks of a self-contradictory system that is open for economics
but politically closed.... Even on the
economic level, the country lacks a balanced growth. Bulk of the business and
industrial activities are focussed in certain areas while others are ignored.
Agriculture and small scale economic units are facing unfavorable atmosphere
and government policies appear to be taking care of the interests of the
business groups more than the welfare of the people. Still, China has recorded
overall impressive economic growth which is an example for many other
countries."
"Communist Revolution"
An editorial in the centrist Times Of India (11/16)
read: "China's transition from
communism to capitalism and its leadership change from Jiang Zemin to Hu Jintao
have gone through like a dream - no hitches, no bottlenecks, no rebellion in
the ranks.... Hu Jintao represents a new
generation of completely indigenous Chinese leaders.... Hu Jintao is a native Chinese product and so
are his new colleagues.... Yet, the changeover
is remarkable. Of the nine members of the standing committee of the politburo,
eight are newcomers, the only continuing member being Hu Jintao
himself.... Unlike the radical
transition from Mao to Deng, the changes from Deng to Jiang Zemin and the latter
to Hu Jintao have a continuity. China has its own style of projecting its
leaders to the world, and it will not be long before Hu Jintao becomes as
well-known as Jiang Zemin."
"The 'Change Of Guards' In China"
The Calcutta-based Bengali-language Ananda Bazar Patrika
declared (11/16): "The 16th
Congress did not at all widen the path to political democracy in China. Those
who expected that tightfisted politics would loosen gradually in keeping with
the country's economic liberalism are disappointed. There were no initiatives
taken to bring about reforms in Chinese politics and the 'economism' to keep
the wheels of faster development moving under the party's strict control remain
in vogue ... The happenings at Tienanmen square and the events following
clearly show that without the honest intention of slackening the hold of one
party communist autonomy to enforce multiparty democracy, China has been able
to maintain its scintillating economic progress. And no protest or agitation
being organized against this autocracy by the Chinese people is in sight.
Although, under these circumstances, the rest of the world, especially the
world of the West, the citadel of democracy is concerned about the fundamental
rights of expression as well as human rights in China, the Chinese leadership
did not feel any need of adopting any resolution a discussing this at the
highest level of the party ... Jiang Zemin or his followers do not have any
knowledge of how long the chariot of economic reforms will be able to move."
"Who's Hu: Please Take
Off The Mask"
Senior Editor Ashis Chakrabarti, in Beijing, wrote in the centrist
Telegraph (11/14): "He is
known to suffer from altitude sickness. So much so that this governor of Tibet
would often rule his rebellious people in the rugged and windy mountains from
Beijing's comfortable closets. He is now all set to climb the height of power
of China - as the next president of the country and the general secretary of
the Chinese Communist Party. The soft-spoken 59-year old party climber smiles a
lot but gives way little to make headlines. So little is known about his
personal life - to the Chines themselves or to international China experts -
that some have described him as a man with a mask.... His public profile, though, makes mixed
impressions. To the party top brass, he was among the brightest young faces in
a party dominated by the old. But the man seems to have known all about
climbing to the top.... Independent
observers, though, have not been as impressed with his stints as governor of
Tibet or of Guizhou, both among the poorest of provinces then as well as
now.... After tomorrow, as he is
formally anointed the new ruler of China, Hu Jintao will however take off the
mask and let the world know who's Hu."
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
ARGENTINA: "The Rise
Of Another Major World Power In The XXI Century"
Claudio Aliscioni, leading Clarin international columnist,
wrote (11/10): "Why pay attention,
now, to the General Congress of China's Communist Party? This appears like a pointless question when
the world's eyes are set on Iraq and the threat of a war in the Persian Gulf.
But we mustn't underestimate what's taking place at Beijing now, where a new
leadership will appear in a country that's emerging like the other major global
power of the XXI century, vis-à-vis the U.S.
The Congress of China's Communist Party must deal with the
contradictions of a system outlined by the disappeared Deng Xiao Ping: how can
you harmonize the liberalization of the market supported from above with political
freedom and the dangers of social clashes, coming from below? Is it possible to
blend the covetousness - implicit in Capitalism - with the moralizing banners
defended by the Party? Can you create jobs without reducing competitiveness,
demanded by capital? China knows it
needs the West because it needs investment. The West looks to China because it
may turn into the necessary engine to overcome global recession. One of the key
aspects of the immediate future depends on how these issues are solved. The new
emerging generation will be responsible for showing the limits of Chinese
pragmatism."
"Democracy, The New Chinese Challenge"
An editorial in business-financial El Cronista read
(11/18): "Last week China made the
most orderly change of authorities in its history...since 1949... Beijing
clearly notices that it has to face the challenges of next years with younger
people. This is why 59-year Jintao reached power.... In the structural sphere, the biggest step
taken by the Chinese Communist Party Congress was the inclusion of capitalistic
members in the party's bureaucracy. Not in vain have private corporations
already contributed with almost 50 per cent of the country's GDP... In this
way, this century's China joined the economic structure of big powers but
maintaining an anachronistic concentration of political power in a number of
men... without democratic elections. This will be the Asian giant's next
challenge. Now, combating corruption or maintaining a controlled social order
should not be China's only must. To sustain its hegemony, Beijing must have the
ability to create a new political framework that can represent Chinese
citizens, today ignored by government when creating political positions."
BRAZIL: "Chinese
Dilemma"
Right-of-center O Globo editorialized (11/17): "The end of consumerism in the countries
of former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe has caused deep changes in the
Chinese regime.... Peking has tried to keep
up appearances. Today one should ask if
the Communist Party still controls China or if the Party controlling China is
still Communist. But in fact...the
Communist Party is a powerful command structure capable of keeping the gigantic
machine running. In the last decade it
has been trying the improbable: to peacefully administrate the transition from
central planning to a market economy and still preserve the party's system and
one single thinking. And is explicitly
seeking the adhesion of businessmen in the private sector, re-baptized as red
capitalists or as advanced productive forces.... As it stands, however, the situation is
unbearable. Without its ideological
disguise, sooner or later the Chinese will notice that the political guidelines
imposed by the CP are arbitrary....Whether the new leaders want it or not...a
political opening will come. Either from
within China itself, when the wish for change is stronger than Peking's iron
hand. Or from outside, under the
irresistible pressure of the globalized world."
CANADA: "China Takes
Step Forward"
Left-of-center Regina Leader Post opined (11/18): "It may not meet democratic ideals, but
the peaceful handing over of the reins of power in China represents political
progress.... The mere fact that the Chinese
leadership is changing peacefully, without benefit of a secret coup (or threat
thereof), represents political progress in and of itself. But it is progress
that must be measured in baby steps. For
China to have moved from the anarchy of the 1920s, to the conflict of the
1940s, to Mao's iron-fisted rule - how quickly we forget the subjugation of
Tibet - through the cultural revolution and its backlash to relatively
stability and prosperity is impressive indeed.... Jiang [Zemin], 76, has
stepped down and has turned over the job of party general secretary to China's
vice-president, Hu Jintao, 59. Hu's work will not be easy. As China's
peculiarly mixed economy heads toward more and more private ownership,
inefficient enterprises will fail and their workers will be laid off.
Unemployment in a state that previously offered life-time jobs regardless of
performance creates unrest.. For better or worse, China has moved boldly into a
new era that will change it, and the entire world."
##
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