Teaching Comparative

Complexity and Ambiguity in Chinese politics

The Washington Post article frames the issue around policy debates over birth control, but there is so much more involved here. Who are the "Beijing hard-liners" mentioned in the sub-head? Are they reformers pushing for economic change or old-line Communists resisting it? Another big issue involves the power of local officials and the powers of the central authorities. Then there is the problem of the internal politics of the Politburo. Oh, and does the article mention the growing civil society?

Then again, this issue may be bigger in the international arena than in the Chinese one. Perhaps the blind peasant will be convicted and then allowed to come to the US for medical treatment. Uncomfortable dissidents have followed that path in the past. He would come as a hero to the current American administration probably just before next fall's election.

Chinese to Prosecute Peasant Who Resisted One-Child Policy

"Decision Reveals Growing Clout of Beijing Hard-Liners

"The Chinese government is preparing to prosecute a blind peasant who exposed excesses by authorities in enforcing the one-child policy in eastern China..

"Before he was detained in September, Chen had tried to organize a class-action lawsuit against Linyi officials, alleging they were illegally forcing parents with two children to be sterilized and women pregnant with a third child to have abortions. Residents also accused officials of detaining and torturing relatives of people who fled the crackdown.

"Chen's cause drew support from lawyers, scholars and civic activists across the country, and the government agency responsible for population policies in China, the National Family Planning and Population Commission, launched an investigation...

"But local authorities fought back... [and] lobbied the Foreign Ministry and the powerful Propaganda Department, which agreed to ban any discussion of Chen in the state media and the Internet, the sources said.

"For months, the party appeared torn about how to proceed, but the decision to prosecute Chen suggests that the Linyi officials have outmaneuvered others in the government...

"Chen's case was also complicated by an internal party debate over the future of the one-child policy. Some party officials and scholars have urged the government to relax the policy... But provincial leaders and others in the party have resisted...

"A party official involved in the debate said Hu and others on the ruling Politburo Standing Committee are unwilling to take a position on the issue ahead of a leadership conference next year. As a result, he said, many in the party are not sure whether they should support Chen or condemn the Linyi officials."

posted by Ken Wedding @ 10:06 AM