Democratic Reform in China

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Oh the times they are a changin'...

More non-Communists to help lead China
March 2, 2008 -- More non-Communists are expected to become high-ranking officials in China, it was reported Sunday.

Two non-Communist government ministers were appointed last year and more are expected to be appointed to top-level posts, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"Across China, more than 31,000 non-Communists are working as officials at or above county level, of whom at least 6,000 work at government organizations and judicial bodies at various levels," said Wu Jianmin, spokesman for the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Wu said 20 non-Communist officials are already working at the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and central government departments. Moreover, China has a total of 30 non-Communist vice governors, and 15 big and medium-sized cities have non-Communist vice mayors, he added.

"Many non-Communist officials have shouldered important jobs and played vital roles," Wu was quoted as saying.

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Greying China may scrap one-child policy
29 Feb 2008, China, worried about an aging population, is studying scrapping its controversial one-child policy but will not do away with family-planning policies altogether, a senior official said on Thursday.

With the world’s biggest population straining scarce land, water and energy resources, China has enforced rules to restrict family size since the 1970s. Rules vary but usually limit families to one child, or two in the countryside.
"We want incrementally to have this change,” vice minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission Zhao Baige said. "I cannot answer at what time or how, but this has become a big issue among decision makers," Zhao added. "The attitude is to do the studies, to consider it responsibly and to set it up systematically."

The average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime has decreased to 1.8 in China today, from 5.8 in the 1970s, and below the replacement rate of 2.1. China says its policies have prevented several hundred million births and boosted prosperity, but experts have warned of a looming social time-bomb from an aging population and widening gender disparity stemming from a traditional preference for boys.

State media said in December that China’s population would grow to 1.5 billion people by 2033, with birth rates set to soar over the next five years. Officials have also cautioned that population controls are being unraveled by the increased mobility of China’s 150 million-odd migrant workers, who travel from rural areas to work in more affluent eastern cities.

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Acts of God change China...

From Dragon to Panda: a New China?
June 3, 2008 - How Handling of Sichuan Earthquake Softened China's Image and Increased Press Freedom

For China, 2008 is supposed to be the best year ever. Eight is a fortuitous number that symbolizes fortune and luck, according to Chinese traditions, but thus far, the Year of the Rat has been anything but lucky. Beginning with a devastating blizzard, hundreds of thousands of travelers were left stranded at train stations during the Chinese New Year holiday in January. Weeks later, uprisings in Tibet exploded onto the world stage, igniting protests that overflowed into the international Olympic torch relay.

Just as China was getting back on its feet, disaster struck again when two trains collided on a major route in Shandong Province, killing over 70 people. Then, on May 12, the Sichuan earthquake killed more than 70,000 people, many of them children. Amid the overwhelming devastation, a point of light has emerged from the earthquake rubble. Because of the central government's actions in Sichuan, the rest of the world is beginning to see China less as a threatening dragon and more as a strong but compassionate panda.

When Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao picked up his megaphone and consoled the victims of the earthquake, he was heard around the world. Fondly nicknamed "Grandpa Wen," his tearful hugs and extended post-earthquake presence in Sichuan Province was a marked departure from the government's sometimes bunker-mentality approach to disasters.

From immediately dispatching earthquake response teams to allowing foreign journalists to freely report in Sichuan, the central government's relief strategy has helped assuage many of the fears and protests that plagued the Olympic torch relay. Cognizant that the world was watching, the Chinese response has been markedly more transparent and open than ever before.

'The Whole World Stands Behind China'

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China Tells Bush to Butt Out...

China to President Bush: Butt Out
August 7, 2008 - Bush Arrives in Beijing for Olympics After Slamming China for Human Rights

China reacted angrily to harsh words on human rights delivered by President Bush today, just hours before Bush arrived in Beijing to attend the Olympics. In addition to the testy exchange with Bush, the day before the opening ceremony saw more protesters arrested and the smog the Chinese promised to curb before the Games still hanging over the city. The haze may be a metaphor for the controversy that has dogged China throughout the seven-year, multi-billion-dollar effort to host the Games, which Beijing hopes will mark the country's arrival on the world stage.

Bush, in remarks in Bangkok, Thailand, before his arrival in Beijing, voiced "firm opposition" to China's continued detention of dissidents. "The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings," Bush said. The Chinese government issued a response, saying that it "puts people first, and is dedicated to maintaining and promoting its citizens' basic rights and freedom."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China advocates discussions on differing views on human rights and religions on "a basis of mutual respect and equality." As for Bush's remarks, Qin's statement warned, "We firmly oppose any words or acts that interfere in other countries' internal affairs, using human rights and religion and other issues. Bush will meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday.

Heads of State and Stubborn Haze

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Eventually China will have to reform its political system or risk civil war...

Bush Optimistic China Will Become Freer
09 August 2008 - U.S. President George Bush is attending Olympic events in Beijing, where Saturday he expressed optimism that China will eventually allow greater freedoms for its people.

The president used his weekly radio address to express America's deep concern about freedom and human rights in China. The president praised China's economic growth and the rise of the nation's middle class. Mr. Bush said young people who enjoy some freedoms will ultimately demand greater freedoms.

The president, who is a longtime sports fan, spent Saturday enthusiastically visiting U.S. athletes and Olympic courses. President Bush went mountain biking for more than an hour on the Olympic course which he proclaimed "really, really difficult". He got in a few hits with the U.S. beach volleyball teams and watched the U.S. softball teams practice.

Mr. Bush was also scheduled to meet with U.S. corporate sponsors, worship at a local church and attend basketball and swimming events this weekend. On Sunday, President Bush is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao. On Friday, President Bush visited U.S. athletes, telling them - in his words - "Go for it. Give it all you have got."

VOA News - Bush Optimistic China Will Become Freer