Cry for political reforms in China

China’s ultra fast economy has achieved the second place in the world and it may challenge America’s pre-eminent position before long. But this has not lessened the economic stresses on Chinese people. Prices of essential commodities are soaring relentlessly and housing, health and education are getting beyond most of them. So, the new leaders who have just taken over the reins of power in Beijing have an arduous road ahead. People will not accept mere talk of socialism and sacrifice any more.Their shrill cry for political reforms is echoing from all-around the famed walls…..

By VSP Kurup
China’s political and economic road map announced by the new leadership does notpresage any change in the extant policies; yet there is a general assumption that even driving along the path and direction laid down by the great visionary Jiang Zemin and faithfully followed by his able successors Wen Jiabao and Hu Jintao until recently, will mean the future is pregnant with immense possibilities. During the 14 years (1989-2003) when Jiang Zemin was at the helm of affairs China became the fastest growing economy in the world. Today it is the second largest economy, overtaking Japan and all European giants. Who can say it will not challenge the USA for the first position before the end of the decade?Now trying to recover from virtual financial ruins, America is deeply worried about this prospect.
        Reiterating the government’s known position before the first assembly of the newly constituted 2,200-member Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), its Chairman Yu Zhengsheng declared that the country would continue with the single party system; it would never accept the multi-party governance as in the West. But the Communist Party of China (CPC)-led government would have consultations with other groups. (In China there are eight other political parties but they are allowed to function only in consonance with and subordinate to the CPC.)
        The CPPCC is the second chamber of the Chinese parliament with 60 percent members from outside the party-- akin to the Rajya Sabha. It has only an advisory role. The real power is wielded by the National People’s Congress (NPC), the main chamber of parliament with 3,000 members, mostly communist party cardholders. A 7-member Standing Committee, or cabinet, controls the party as well as the government. Yu Zhengsheng who presides over the CPPCC occupies the 4th place in the Standing Committee, which is headed by the party chairman and president of China, Xi Jinping.
        For all its vibrant lip-service to people’s power and paeans of popular movements, China is not ready to establish democracy. It is not willing to loosen control on the media. There have been several reports of the government muzzling the internet as well as newspapers for publishing certain unsavory facts about the high and mighty in China. And, despite the apparent calm on the surface, there have been nearly two lakh agitations in various parts of China in 2012.
        Assuredly, the trek China has started on the capitalist road without any fuss or flamboyance will continue because its people ‘enjoy’ the new ambience. They (at least the top cream who alone matter) have private property, expensive cars, luxury mansions, fat bank balance – why, all goodies for a fast life. (Other concomitants of capitalism like corruption, sexual escapades, political murders etc. too are there. But that is another story.) The irony is that China still swears by socialism. Zhengsheng stressed that the extant ‘Chinese socialism’ would continue to shape its economy! No hint of a definition of this new jargon, but one can presume from the goings on in hinterland China that it consists less of socialism and more of capitalism!
Statistically, Chinese economy might have become number two in the world, but there is no respite for the people groaning under severe stress on account of rocketing prices of essential commodities. Real estate prices are also going beyond the reach of ordinary people with attendant consequences. It is the same story with regard to education and medical treatment. Where is the stamp of socialism in all these?
        Just before the current CPPCC meeting an open letter signed by more than 100 prominent Chinese leaders, scholars, economists, journalists and former party officials made an unprecedented appeal for political reforms. The letter urged the CPC leadership particularly to ratify the International Human Rights Treaty ‘in order to further promote and establish the principles of human rights and constitutionalism in China’. It is said to be the boldest demand yet coming from Chinese intellectuals. They hoped the new leaders would push for political reforms, curtail the party’s power and raise the authority of constitution and courts. The party and the government can not ignore these cries for long, especially since they do not want another scandalous Tiananmen!
( The Article was first published in the monthly magazine of political affairs the ' Lokayat' (June, 2013 issue)