Several weeks ago, Premier Wen Jiabao caused a stir when he wrote in the People’s Daily that China would remain in the "primary stage of socialism" for 100 years and, during that time, must focus on economic construction. Many analysts concluded from this that China did not plan to allow democracy to develop for another century.
However, at the recently concluded annual session of the Chinese parliament, known as the National People’s Congress, Wen Jiabao clarified what he meant and made a rare exposition of his ideas on democracy, couching them in unusual terms. Those terms were similar to ones used by the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping when he introduced the market economy into the socialist system in the 1990s.
Deng, who was strictly a pragmatist, turned the conventional definition of socialism on its head by jettisoning central planning, saying that a socialist country could make use of the market, too."Planning and market forces are not the essential difference between socialism and capitalism," he said. "A planned economy is not the definition of socialism, because there is planning under capitalism; the market economy happens under socialism, too."
The market, Deng concluded, is simply a tool that can be used by both socialist and capitalist societies. Since then, China has become transformed into a country where the market trumps planning at virtually all levels but still calls itself a socialist society.
Asked at his annual Press conference if he meant that "there will be no democracy in China in the next one hundreds years," Wen Jiabao responded, echoing Deng: "Democracy, legal system, freedom, human rights, equality and fraternity" are not peculiar to capitalism.
"Rather, they are the common achievements of human civilizations made in the long course of history and the common values pursued by entire mankind." Usually, Chinese officials refer to "socialist democracy" or the "socialist legal system" as though they are somehow different from what is practiced in capitalist countries.
By responding the way he did, the premier made it clear that concepts like democracy, rule of law and human rights, which are sometimes labeled as bourgeois and unsuitable for socialist China, are actually universal values, or, in the words of the premier, "common achievements of human civilizations".
That is to say, such concepts are not incompatible with China’s socialism. Rather, they are values that should be pursued by China, along with the rest of mankind.
The premier’s answer was clearly well thought through since the question had been anticipated. Besides, even before the question- and-answer period, Wen had delivered opening remarks that were very much in the same vein.
Speaking about his four years as premier, Wen said: "These four years have taught us one thing: We must be guided by the fundamental principle that all the power of the government is bestowed on us by the people and that all the power belongs to the people."
This is very much in line with the "people-centered" government preached by President Hu Jintao. But what is interesting is that in practical terms, Chinese people normally are not considered to have any rights until they are given to them by the government.
The significance of Wen’s words is that, in terms of socialist theory, there should be no impediment to China implementing political reforms so as to become more democratic over time, even if Beijing continues to put economic development ahead of political reforms.
In fact, at his Press conference, Wen acknowledged the need for political reforms in order to tackle many of China’s problems. For example, he blamed corruption on "excessive concentration of power" and a "lack of effective checks and oversight", adding: "This makes it necessary to reform our system" by diffusion of power and enhancing public supervision of the government.
Wen did not indicate when and how such changes would be made. But, at least, there is now explicit recognition by Beijing of the need for political reform. And public supervision of the government, of course, is but another name for democracy.
There is also a need to change deep-rooted ways of thinking. Traditionally, government officials have considered themselves as superior to ordinary people. Wen showed a desire to change this concept by using the term "public servants". Government officials, he said, "should be good public servants and serve the people. They do not have any other power." Thousands of years of tradition will not be easy to overcome. But Wen suggests that the government is planning to lead the way.
Source: www.a1articles.com
