How China harmonises the West

Obviously Xi was impatient at criticism of China’s abuses of human rights. But his attitude reveals how things have changed in recent years. When the Chinese economy was less important to the West, Beijing found itself in an awkward position, pretended to listen to criticism from western countries and accepted requests for talks on human rights. Nowadays the Chinese economy is much more robust, and the government is much less willing to listen to lecturing from other countries.

When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visited China in 2008 he made a speech at Peking University criticising the serious human rights situation in Tibet. If the Prime Minister had tried to repeat that sort of thing to Xi Jinping during his stay in Australia, Mr Rudd could have expected to receive a bluntly impolite response from a bold Mr Xi. But to keep the growing business relationship on an even keel, Australia will not run the risk of offending the Chinese government.

China’s impressive economic development contrasts with the backwards and reactionary nature of her political system. There was a simplistic view held by some in the West that once China achieved substantial economic growth, liberty and democracy would automatically arrive. That clearly hasn’t happened. The Communist Party regime, backed by three million PLA soldiers and two million armed police, maintains its monopoly of power by force. Nevertheless China is changing, and the changes are not helpful to the regime.

The Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 was a watershed in Chinese social development. Before then, there was a trend of democratisation among officials and the people. After Tiananmen that tendency became extinct. But current social problems and conflicts are much more severe than ever. While elites enjoy wealth and some freedom, ordinary people do not. Political power is confined to the Chinese communist party, and this absolute political power results in the absolute corruption of party officials. Social injustice is omnipresent, and the grievances and anger of the powerless populace are mounting. The recent industrial disputes at Honda and Foxconn are simply the tip of the iceberg.

Xi Jinping’s activities during his visit to Australia were largely symbolic. The relationship of the two governments will continue to be warm. The “win-win” and “in-depth co-operation” between the two governments will be further consolidated. Both the Chinese Communist Party and Xi will be satisfied. But the groans of the Chinese people under the misrule of the CCP will increase. On present trends, an eruption of the Chinese social volcano could be looming. There is a famous Chinese saying: “Things always reverse themselves after reaching an extreme” or “Out of the depths of misfortune comes bliss”.