China revolt - next on the list?

[yuli]

Considering the recent wave of arrests in China and the harassment (including physical attacks on) on foreign journalists, I think that like Saudi Arabia, China is closer to a political explosion than the pundits want to admit.

[yuli]

From a May 05, 2011, Spiegel interview with President Ma:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/wor ... -2,00.html

SPIEGEL: Beijing currently seems to be extremely nervous because of the unrests in the Arab world. [...]

From the same interview:

SPIEGEL: [...] Will there ever be real democracy in China or do we in the West have false expectations?
Ma: Of course, there will be many difficulties in bringing about a fully democratic system in mainland China. But when a society enjoys universal education and a prosperous economy, and when a middle class has appeared, more and more people will express their views about public policies. This has happened in Taiwan, Southeast Asian countries, Latin America as well as Arab countries. From relative poverty through reform and opening-up to the world, mainland China has experienced tremendous economic growth over the past several decades. And the advent of the Internet has enabled more and more people to express their opinions on public policies. This phenomenon is impossible to prevent, and I feel that sooner or later mainland China will move toward greater freedom and democracy.

[urodacus]

nothing but a pipe dream, Mayor Ma. Pipe dream.

some more opium, sir?

[headhonchoII]

Maybe 10 years later...

[Huang Guang Chen]

Umm, Yuli, what exactly has led you to believe this? Extensive travel in China? Perhaps a discussion or two with a few dissidents, or the "natural laws of physics"'?

Aint' happening for the foreseeable. Too many beneficiaries of China's gains, and too many losers if the place fell into disarray.

HG

[Mucha Man]

I don't see it happening for a long time either, but only because public security forces are far too numerous, organized and ruthless. No one is sitting around going, hmm, I shouldn't protest over my land being stolen by the state, or inflation, or un-affordable housing, or pollution, or corruption, or gross inequality, because it might bring on the next Taiping Rebellion. There are still far more people in China who have little to lose than a lot to lose.

[Ryan the third]

From a May 05, 2011, Spiegel interview with President Ma:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/wor ... -2,00.html

SPIEGEL: Beijing currently seems to be extremely nervous because of the unrests in the Arab world. [...]

From the same interview:

SPIEGEL: [...] Will there ever be real democracy in China or do we in the West have false expectations?
Ma: Of course, there will be many difficulties in bringing about a fully democratic system in mainland China. But when a society enjoys universal education and a prosperous economy, and when a middle class has appeared, more and more people will express their views about public policies.

If they are allowed to do that without going to jail or vanishing maybe.

This has happened in Taiwan [...]

Yeah right... Taiwan is a shining example of a fully democratic system

From relative poverty through reform and opening-up to the world, mainland China has experienced tremendous economic growth over the past several decades. And the advent of the Internet has enabled more and more people to express their opinions on public policies.

and to be censored, prosecuted and arrested.

This phenomenon is impossible to prevent, and I feel that sooner or later mainland China will move toward greater freedom and democracy.

Never... ever... not as long as Chinese people, Chinese tradition and Chinese culture reign.

While I can see why an interview with him may be interesting on the surface its still pretty useless IMHO.

[white dragon]

I would say many of the internal problems facing China have 'external' influences.

CIA, or more likely Mossad.

They want to destablilise China's ongoing economic and political development in order to prevent her from becoming a potential political and military threat on the world stage.

[Vorkosigan]

Hahahaha. You sound like the Africans I used to know in Kenya who blamed the CIA if their son was shorter than average. The reality is that the CIA wishes it had the ability to affect events in China.

I don't see any revolt either, at least until the great big capitalist organ monkey stops grinding. As long as the middle classes are completely dependent on the State, that won't happen.

[Got To Be Kidding]

I would say many of the internal problems facing China have 'external' influences.

CIA, or more likely Mossad.

They want to destablilise China's ongoing economic and political development in order to prevent her from becoming a potential political and military threat on the world stage.

Mossad? Really?

You have GOT to be KIDDING.

And, the CIA is an intelligence service run by accountants.

Where are you getting all this stuff?