Living well is more important than living with self-respect. The CPC has enabled the people to live well. Its achievements should not be jeopardised by any premature talk of political freedoms and individual liberties.
The focus is on the power of the economic machine created under the leadership of the CPC which has enabled a 10 per cent plus growth rate year after year for a decade. Any talk of the political future of the Chinese society is discouraged even though Prime Minister Wen continues referring to the need for political reforms as he was doing last year.
Can there be another accidental revolution against the rulers of present-day China by people inspired by the accidental revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt?
It is interesting to note the differences in nuances in the statements made in connection with the anniversary by President Hu and Prime Minister Wen. Inaugurating the celebrations on July 1, Hu said as stated by the official Xinhua news agency:
“The Communist Party of China (CPC), chosen by history and the people, has accomplished three major events since its formation 90 years ago.
“The first is that the CPC, relying on the people, completed the new-democratic revolution, winning national independence and liberation of the people.
“The second is that the CPC completed the socialist revolution and established the basic socialist system.
“The third is that the Party carried out a great new revolution of reform and opening up, creating, upholding, and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
“”These three major events reshaped the future and destiny of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.”
Talking in London, where he was on an official visit, on June 27, Wen said: “ The best way to eradicate corruption, unfair income distribution and other ills in China is to firmly advance political structural reform and build socialist democracy under the rule of law.”
The fears of March-April that a Jasmine Revolution with Chinese characteristics may sprout in China have dissipated, but nervousness is still there.
It was an inconvenient reminder to those who are talking as if a 10 per cent plus growth rate year after year should be the end all and be all of China’s existence. So long as this objective is met, China does not have to worry about the political aspirations of its people, they feel.
Wen’s seems to be still a voice in the wilderness harping again and again for over a year now on the need for political reforms to maintain political and social harmony. The Party has been allowing him to say whatever he wants to say, but there seems to be very few takers in the party hierarchy for his views.
The fears of March-April that a Jasmine Revolution with Chinese characteristics may sprout in China have dissipated, but nervousness is still there. It is palpable as the Chinese leadership and people celebrate the 90th anniversary of the CPC and play down the importance of the 1911 revolt of the people against the rulers. They keep looking over their shoulders even as they cheer thousands and thousands of men, women and children marching before their eyes singing revolutionary songs.
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