Zhang Zhijun, China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that 70% of the people in China support the current government and that an Arab Spring-style uprising in China is no more than a fantasy. “China has different policies and situations from those in West Asian and North African regions and countries. In fact, according to a poll conducted by a Western organization, China ranked No. 1 with over 70% of those responding giving favorable votes on satisfaction with the government. The reason why the people show such support for the Chinese government is simple. In the past 30 years of reform and opening-up, China has developed rapidly in the political, economic, and social fields, with unprecedented achievements in its history. Anyone, by looking at these changes, will know that the so called China’s Arab Spring is no more than a fantasy.”
[Editor’s note: Zhang’s remarks were made in response to those of Senator John McCain, who was on the same panel as Zhang at the 48th Munich Security Conference on February 4, 2012. McCain stated, "It is a matter of concern when Tibetans are burning themselves to death because of the continued repression of the Tibetan people in your country." "I have said on many occasion and I will say again the Arab Spring is coming to China as well."]
Sources:
International Finance News reprinted by People’s Daily, February 6, 2012
http://paper.people.com.cn/gjjrb/html/2012-02/06/content_1002186.htm
Huff Post, February 6, 2012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/04/john-mccain-arab-spring-china_n_1254462.html