China wants to be a democracy? – Democracy in the News
Emotional Chinese premier says democracy cannot be held back as he admits country is in urgent need of reform
– ‘Due to my incompetent abilities and institutional and other factors, there is still much room for improvement in my work. I should assume responsibility for the problems that have occurred in China’s economy and society during my term in office for which I feel truly sorry.’
Well this is a fairly uplifting story. It seems that China is actually contemplating true democratic reform instead of simply repressing its citizens in times of hardship. In response to the growing unrest in regards to the economy and other social factors, PM Jiabao has said that he is in favour of some democratic reform, some “leadership competition”.
While this is well and good for democracy, I wonder how sincere this rhetoric actually. Nowhere does he indicate that there might be a multiparty system, just a replacement of leadership within the Communist Party. I contend that this is nothing more than rhetoric to make his failures with the economy, and his resignation as a good thing. “Now we have democracy!” well, actually, you don’t. Instead you have just masked your shameful resignation with the happy buzzword “democratic reform”. This word also serves to ease the social unrest which leadership fears may result in another Cultural Revolution. This is a politician being a politician. He has the reputation of being the ‘nice guy’ within the leadership, and desperately wants to retain this image as he emotionally exits stage right; a sacrifice on the altar of democratic reform. I hope nobody buys it.