China Compared with 1987 Taiwan Politically

[Randy W]

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An interesting article from the New York Times

 

In China, Party Trumps a Strongman

 

 

On many levels, there are similarities between Taiwan in 1987 and mainland China today. Both are Chinese in the sense that Chinese is spoken and there is a majority Chinese culture, however that is defined. Mainland China now, like Taiwan then, is riddled with issues where many people want to see change, from education to pollution to corruption. Many may not want an outright democracy, unsure what that means for the country, but they want more say in their society. Some of these views are shared by senior leaders in the government and party. Yet a key difference is that, in 1987, Taiwan had a strongman whose power, with his health, was failing. It was a moment of change.

 

Mainland China’s strongmen — for today they are a group, and not an individual — don’t see themselves as failing.

 

. . .

 

So, is Xi Jinping a strongman? “Even if he is tough and strong, I don’t think he can act alone,” Dr. Hsiao said. “If he comes out as a strongman for reform, then his peers will feel threatened.”

And that is the problem of the strong group. It is trapped by its power and its numbers.

 

[Fu Lai]

I know that many have great hopes in this new Chinese government.