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Analyses - 8. page

Understanding China’s Economic Reform

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In the late 1970s China embarked on economic reform, gradually transforming what was originally a centrally planned system into a more liberal one. As a result, in 2010 China stood as the second-largest economy in the world. Many aspects of a market-oriented system are now in place: competitive commodity and labor markets, the development of stock exchanges, a rapid growth of the private sector, and opening up to foreign trade and investment. Some observers believe that China is on the right track toward a market economy. They also believe that economic reform will finally bring about political reform – that a Taiwan style democratic China will emerge in the mainland. However, this is not what the initiator of reform – the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) – wants.

This article shows that the Communist Party initiated economic reform for its own survival and the continuation of its one-party governance. The Party used private ownership, foreign capital, and a competitive market to strengthen the socialist system instead of deviating from the socialist path, and it is now using its economic success to justify the one-party political system.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

Beijing’s Efforts to Maintain Socio-political Stability and Crush a Potential Jasmine Revolution

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Starting in January 2011, popular protests erupted in some Middle East countries, leading, within weeks, to the removal of the authoritarian presidents of Tunisia and Egypt. The shock waves continue to spread across the region and reached Zhongnanhai in Beijing, where the Communist dictators are deeply apprehensive about their own future.

This article explores some of the Chinese regime’s responses, as of early March 2011, in the following areas: misinformation and propaganda; the tightening grip of the military and the police; the exercise of social control; and Internet censorship and arrests. While the timing of Zhongnanhai’s actions suggest they are a clear attempt to avoid a Middle East style crisis, these methods used are not new; they have long served the purpose of handling China’s own social instability. The collected facts may offer interesting insights into the regime’s maneuvers in its attempt to survive and continue its rule.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

The CHINA MODEL, China’s Development and Global Expansion Strategy: A Review from Chinese Sources

Introduction
The China Model has been a hot topic in China recently. Over the last few years, numerous articles have been published in the Chinese Communist Party’s official publications and state media discussing the “China Model.” From those articles, the meaning of the China Model has been interpreted differently from what is generally perceived in the West. The government highly supports the study of the China Model,  and has designated it as a national project. On May 12, 2010, the team researching the “China Model” gathered at the Shanghai Social Sciences Institute to sign up and discuss the sub-projects of the China Model. Shijun Tong, deputy Party secretary of the Shanghai Social Sciences Institute and the leading scholar for the project, emphasized to the researchers that while conducting research and publishing papers, they must follow the theoretical system of Chinese style socialism as the guide, must have a vision of the big picture and a political sense, and must be conscious of the difference between open publication and an internal report. [1]
The current report reviews the publications in China’s state media about the China Model, in an attempt to put together a whole picture of the China Model as defined by Chinese Communist leaders and official scholars. In the ensuing reports, we will look into the CCP’s development of the China Model at the operational level.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

Beijing’s New Cultural Revolution, Industrial Policies, and Global Practices

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Introduction

It is worth taking note of Beijing’s intense work in recent years to develop culture related business domestically and export culture related products internationally. This article and the previously published article (Beijing’s New Cultural Revolution, Ideological and Strategic Discussions) attempt to sum up the Chinese Communist regime’s effort to strategize, plan, and implement policy in the arena of Chinese culture, to solidify its governance, to assure the ideological guidance of socialism/Marxism in society, and to expand its global influence. This article focuses on the Chinese Communist Party’s policy practices and global efforts.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

Beijing’s New Cultural Revolution, Ideological Guidance and Strategic Discussions

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It is worth noting Beijing’s recent intense work on developing culture related businesses domestically and exporting culture products internationally. This article and the next one, Beijing’s New Cultural Revolution, and Industrial Policies and Global Practices, attempt to sum up the Chinese Communist regime’s efforts in strategizing, planning, and implementation in the arena of Chinese culture. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) purpose is to solidify its governance, assure the ideological guidance of socialism/Marxism in society, and expand its global influence. This article focuses on the CCP’s ideological guidance and on debates among government officials and scholars. The second article will appear in a subsequent issue.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

Recent School Killings in China

A new crime wave stunned China recently. From March 23 to May 19, seven school killings across China were reported by news media. These pre-meditated crimes appeared to be random killings targeting innocent children (see box).

The sudden outbreak of senseless crimes highlighted China’s already shaky security condition and growing social discontent, and prompted high profile official reactions.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

New Communist Party Efforts to Revive Itself

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In his September 18, 2009, speech at the Fourth Session of the 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Hu Jintao admitted that strengthening the 75 million-member Party was an urgent need, and that there were numerous problems within the Party that seriously weakened its power as the ruling party.  [1] That same day, the Party passed the “Decision on a Number of Major Issues Regarding Strengthening and Improving the Party’s Growth under New Situations.” Xinhua touted it as “a programmatic document to guide the current and future Party’s growth.” [2]

The decision admits that “some Party members and cadres neglect theoretical studies; their studies and practices are out of touch; ideals and beliefs are shaken; their beliefs in Marxism are not firm and they lack confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics. … These problems have seriously weakened the Party’s creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness; gravely damaged the Party’s close ties with the masses; and seriously affected the consolidation of the Party’s ruling status and governance to achieve its mission. We must alert the entire Party to pay close attention to resolve it.”

However, the CCP’s sense of urgency and insecurity is not new.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party: Common Sense of the 21st Century?

In 1776, a booklet titled Common Sense fueled the growing discontent among the King’s subjects in America. Thomas Paine’s simple words, logic, and conviction gave millions of Americans a cause to fight for. A revolution began. A great nation was born.

In 2004, a book called the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published. The book made piercing revelations about the Chinese Communist Party’s evil nature, and predicted the Party’s demise in the near future. Millions across China have surreptitiously read the book, and passed it on to friends and family. Will this book do in China what Common Sense did for the American Revolution? Will this book change people’s outlook about the future of China and inspire them to fight for a future without Communism? This paper explores the answers.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion