The Revolution is Coming...

[rogerluli]

China insider sees revolution brewing JOHN GARNAUT

February 27, 2010

 

BEIJING: China's top expert on social unrest has warned that hardline security policies are taking the country to the brink of ''revolutionary turmoil''.

 

In contrast with the powerful, assertive and united China that is being projected to the outside world, Yu Jianrong said his prediction of looming internal disaster reflected on-the-ground surveys and also the views of Chinese government ministers.

 

Deepening social fractures were caused by the Communist Party's obsession with preserving its monopoly on power through ''state violence'' and ''ideology'', rather than justice, Professor Yu said.

 

Disaster could be averted only if ''interest groups'' - which he did not identify - were capable of making a rational compromise to subordinate themselves to the constitution, he said.

 

Some lawyers, economists and religious and civil society leaders have expressed similar views but it is unusual for someone with Professor Yu's official standing to make such direct and detailed criticisms of core Communist Party policies.

 

Professor Yu is known as an outspoken insider. As the director of social issues research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Rural Affairs he advises top leaders and conducts surveys on social unrest.

 

He previously has warned of the rising cost of imposing ''rigid stability'' by force but has not previously been reported as speaking about such immediate dangers.

 

''Some in the so-called democracy movement regard Yu as an agent for the party, because he advises senior leaders on how to maintain their control,'' said Feng Chongyi, associate professor in China Studies at the University of Technology, Sydney.

 

''I believe Yu is an independent scholar. This speech is very significant because it is the first time Yu has directly confronted the Hu-Wen leadership [President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao] and said their policies have failed and will not work.''

 

Pointedly, Professor Yu took aim at the policy substance behind two of Mr Hu's trademark phrases, ''bu zheteng'' [''stability'', or ''don't rock the boat''] and ''harmonious society''.

 

His speech was delivered on December 26, the day after the rights activist Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in jail for helping to draft a manifesto for constitutional and democratic government in China, called Charter '08.

 

The sentence, which shocked liberal intellectuals and international observers, followed a tumultuous year during which the party tightened controls over almost all spheres of China's burgeoning civil society, including the internet, media, legal profession, non-government organisations and business.

 

Professor Yu's speech has not been previously reported but has recently emerged on Chinese websites.

 

He cited statistics showing the number of recorded incidents of ''mass unrest'' grew from 8709 in 1993 to more than 90,000 in each of the past three years.

 

''More and more evidence shows that the situation is getting more and more tense, more and more serious,'' Professor Yu said.

 

He cited a growing range and severity of urban worker disputes and said Mafia groups were increasingly involved in state-sponsored thuggery while disgruntled peasants were directing blame at provincial and even central government.

 

''For seeking 'bu zheteng' we sacrifice reform and people's rights endowed by law ¡­ Such stability will definitely bring great social disaster,'' he said.

 

Professor Yu's speech reflects deep disillusionment among liberal thinkers in China who had hoped Mr Hu and Mr Wen would implement political reforms.

 

Dr Feng said he still hoped the two would ''do something'' to leave more than a ''dark stain'' on China's political development before stepping down in 2012.

 

''The conservative forces are currently very strong,'' he said. China's security-tightening and potential for future loosening were linked to a leadership succession struggle between Mr Hu and the Vice-Premier, Li Keqiang, on the one hand, and the former president, Jiang Zemin, and the current Vice-President, Xi Jinping, on the other.

 

''I haven't given up the hope that the Hu-Li camp may make some positive political changes to mobilise public support.'' .

 

The latest edition of the newspaper Southern Weekend broke a two-decade taboo by publishing a photo of a youthful Mr Hu with his early mentor, former party chief Hu Yaobang, who was purged in 1987 for his liberal and reformist leanings. But Chinese internet search results for the names of both leaders were yesterday blocked for ''non-compliance with relevant laws''.

 

A Beijing political watcher said such crackdowns were being led by officials who had the most to hide, which did not include Mr Hu or his allies.

 

''Corrupt officials have such a high and urgent interest in controlling the media and especially the internet,'' he said. ''The more they feel that their days are numbered due to the internet and free information, the more ferocious and corrupt they become, in a really vicious circle leading to final collapse.''

 

 

http://www.smh.com.au/world/china-insider-...00226-p92d.html

[Robert S.]

Why did we all have to be cursed to live in such "interesting" times?

[Yuanyang]

Nothing.

 

Nothing is going to happen Roggie. The People's Liberation Army will act on its own authority if it has too. Any big changes requires getting the PLA on board and those guys have ... well they ain't politicians.

[rogerluli]

Nothing.

 

Nothing is going to happen Roggie. The People's Liberation Army will act on its own authority if it has too. Any big changes requires getting the PLA on board and those guys have ... well they ain't politicians.

 

Wouldn't be the first time the military decided they really didn't need the politicos to run things...

[knloregon]

Hard to imagine... at least above the most basic rural level. When the uprising starts, I think most Chinese are going to look at their big screen TV, their condo full of new furniture, their car.... and think first: "do I really want to give it all up to join THIS mob??"

 

...but of course, political and military forces in China, all during the last century, drew the people in without much regard to what they thought, individually.

 

That said, I'm voting no, never, (but conditional) ---China can't go forever without the rule of law.

 

In its absence, I do see the possibility of a massive, and ongoing protest against corruption---answered by the central government with Beijing staging show trials of corrupt provincial officials, executions and imprisonment on a scale not seen since the Cultural Revolution.

[rogerluli]

Hard to imagine... at least above the most basic rural level. When the uprising starts, I think most Chinese are going to look at their big screen TV, their condo full of new furniture, their car.... and think first: "do I really want to give it all up to join THIS mob??"

 

...but of course, political and military forces in China, all during the last century, drew the people in without much regard to what they thought, individually.

 

That said, I'm voting no, never, (but conditional) ---China can't go forever without the rule of law.

 

In its absence, I do see the possibility of a massive, and ongoing protest against corruption---answered by the central government with Beijing staging show trials of corrupt provincial officials, executions and imprisonment on a scale not seen since the Cultural Revolution.

 

And what percentage of the populace has a big screen TV, a condo full of new furniture and a car???

[TLB]

I see the problem being a generation from now, if the material well-being continues to improve. People will put up with corruption, even some oppression if overall life gets better (meaning easier through material wealth) -- but I think at some point that trajectory changes, and people will demand more freedom. Right now patriotism is riding high; I don't think the government's free ride will continue forever.

[amberjack1234]

It is my opinion that the advent of the internet and better educated Chinese has been a great influence on today's Chinese populace. This is the reason that the CCP tries so hard to control the internet but there are so many smart kids these days in China that they know how to circumvent most of the censorship and see for themselves how the rest of the world lives. Change is coming. I don't know exactly how or how much.

 

 

Larry

[Urkidding]

Given the current economic climate here, we're more likely to have one then they are...

 

http://i25.tinypic.com/2ezqt08.jpg

[ShaQuaNew]

There are a few people that think like Roger, meaning that the Chinese people are pissed because they aren't like the West, and ready to revolt. Too much windowpane in the 1960s I suspect.

 

[rogerluli]

There are a few people that think like Roger, meaning that the Chinese people are pissed because they aren't like the West, and ready to revolt. Too much windowpane in the 1960s I suspect.

 

 

I can only assume that Jesse did not bother to read the article or check out the credentials of the quoted expert... Been out in the sun too long I suspect...

[ShaQuaNew]

There are a few people that think like Roger, meaning that the Chinese people are pissed because they aren't like the West, and ready to revolt. Too much windowpane in the 1960s I suspect.

 

 

I can only assume that Jesse did not bother to read the article or check out the credentials of the quoted expert... Been out in the sun too long I suspect...

 

Ya got me on that. I don't spend much time reading your articles because they're all the same when it comes to anything about China. The only good place in China is Hainan, right?

 

If I want to know what's going on in China, I go for a walk outside.

[rogerluli]

There are a few people that think like Roger, meaning that the Chinese people are pissed because they aren't like the West, and ready to revolt. Too much windowpane in the 1960s I suspect.

 

 

I can only assume that Jesse did not bother to read the article or check out the credentials of the quoted expert... Been out in the sun too long I suspect...

 

Ya got me on that. I don't spend much time reading your articles because they're all the same when it comes to anything about China. The only good place in China is Hainan, right?

 

If I want to know what's going on in China, I go for a walk outside.

 

Hainan was a good place to make money...We will never live there...We both like Yunnan much more for many reasons... But it is fascinating that you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about China by walking around your hood...

[GDBILL]

China insider sees revolution brewing JOHN GARNAUT

February 27, 2010

 

BEIJING: China's top expert on social unrest has warned that hardline security policies are taking the country to the brink of ''revolutionary turmoil''.

 

Well, it most certainly wouldn't be the first time that during China's 5,000+ year history a popular uprising destroyed a standing army and overthrew the government.

[ShaQuaNew]

 

 

Hainan was a good place to make money...We will never live there...We both like Yunnan much more for many reasons... But it is fascinating that you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about China by walking around your hood...

 

Hainan is beautiful! A tourist's paradise.

 

Right though. They thought the moon was made of cheese until a few guys went there to have a look for themselves.