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| China-Japan-Koreas | |
| China rules out copying Western democracy | |
| 2007-10-15 | |
| BEIJING, China (AP) Chinese President Hu Jintao opened a major Communist Party congress Monday by promising modest reforms to make government institutions more responsive while strengthening one-party rule. "In deepening political restructuring, we must keep to the correct political orientation," Hu said in a speech opening the party's 17th congress. The congress is a crucial test of strength for Hu after five years in power, especially his ability to maneuver allies, possibly including a designated successor, into key positions and assert the primacy of his vision of more balanced development. Hu, who is expected to remain in power for another five years, said government advisory bodies, which include non-party members, should be given a greater role in decision making. He also supported holding more public hearings before laws and regulations are formulated. He said the party had to pay more attention to taking a scientific outlook on development, a catchphrase for redistributing growth more equally and making more efficient use of energy. "A relatively comfortable standard of living has been achieved for the people as a whole but the trend of a growing gap in incomes distribution has not been thoroughly reversed," Hu said. "There are still a considerable number of impoverished and low-income people in both urban and rural areas, and it has become more difficult to accommodate the interests of all sides." On Sunday, congress spokesman Li Dongsheng said senior party members would put forth a blueprint for reforming political institutions, but the steps aimed to strengthen one-party rule and will not copy Western democratic models. Li told reporters the party has studied and drawn from other country's political systems, along with its own experiences. "But, we will never copy the Western model of a political system," he added. Why? Perchance do you feel that it may take away from government officials' ability to accumulate undue wealth? Look again, Hu . . . . Li gave few specifics and declined to answer questions about expected retirements and promotions in the party's ruling Politburo, highlighting the secretive party's extreme sensitivity over personnel issues. He said reforms would also aim to strengthen the legal system and decision-making, increase the government's responsiveness and "enhance supervision and restraint over the exercise of power." He was referring to Communist Party control over individual leaders, not an attempt to limit the party's unrivaled hold on power. Li did not elaborate, but the congress is expected to address the case of former Politburo member and Shanghai party boss Chen Liangyu, who became the highest-ranking party member to fall in a decade when he was toppled amid a probe into wide-ranging corruption. Although Hu's leadership has never been threatened, he is largely seen as weaker than past leaders, forcing him to compromise on some top appointments and other decisions. In a sign of possible constraints, Hu's retired predecessor, Jiang Zemin, was appointed to the committee handling the congress' arrangements, state media said Sunday. Broadcast live on national television, Hu's opening speech was his highest-profile political address since taking power five years ago at the last party congress. It was heavy with Communist rhetoric, with numerous references to holding "high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics." Hu largely reiterated goals of making China reasonably prosperous by 2020.
Security was heavy in Beijing with police removing a group of older people who appeared to be carrying petitions from the crowds gathered near the Hall on the side of Tiananmen Square. The congress' more-than 2,200 delegates will elect a new party Central Committee. That body in turn will approve a smaller Politburo and the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China. Deliberations over the lineup have been going on for months and will take place this week behind closed doors. Its makeup is officially announced after the congress ends. Hu is expected to also push for the elevation of protege Li Keqiang onto the Politburo Standing Committee, while Xi Jinping, the party boss of Shanghai and the son of a revolutionary veteran, is also expected to get a seat. | |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #7 Spot on, and welcome to Rantburg, Cronter de Medici. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-10-15 23:22 |
| #6 If China was smart... good point but they're not smart, in fact they're kind of stupid overall. Unable to think independently and beyond personal self gain they remain mired in political tyranny and personal misery... They're rude and overpopulated with a massive ecological disaster looking them in the face, they've made a habit of lying and thuggery in their own country and around the region, The USA NEVER should have gotten in bed with them!!!! |
| Posted by: Cronter de Medici7423 2007-10-15 18:46 |
| #5 If China was smart they'd enforce a sort of Federalism in that the states can elect who they want to run themselves but they have no say in who runs the central government and the states better listen to the central government on certain things (corruption for example). Not saying I'd want to live under that sort of thing but if hte party wants to stay in power I think it's the best bet. It gives a sort of illusion of democracy and choice without any of those crazy ideas affecting the central government and the entire nation. It also means you could declare Taiwan a Special Autonomous area (like Hong Kong) and keep the ficition going pretty strong for another decade, perhaps even convincing the Taiwanese to join up rather than fight. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-10-15 18:12 |
| #4 "But, we will never copy the Western model of a political system," he added. I thought Communism was a Western model of a political system. |
| Posted by: Spomolet Brown5308 2007-10-15 11:18 |
| #3 One party rule is tyranny. Our traitor elite simply cannot bring themselves to say it aloud. Be it Chinese communism or Islamic theocracy they are all tyrannies and in need of demolition. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-10-15 11:10 |
| #2 China rules out copying Western democracy Not that they've found 'success' in copying any other western product, now have they? They're sorta like Donks. Party interests over the nation's interests. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-10-15 09:18 |
| #1 China's biggest problem seems to be that their central government is unable to control their regional and local governments. The vast majority of protests are from people who *want* the central government to stop its subordinate governments from violating the national law. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-10-15 09:09 |