Modern China: Hermit or Leader?
We’re 20 years removed, and China is a far different place from where it was on that terrible day.
There are two schools of thought about what has changed in the 20 years since. The first argument is that China totally opened up its economy in the aftermath of being shunned by most of the world, transforming it into the modern and vibrant country it is today. The second argument is one a Chinese friend told me, to my great surprise. After hearing that Twitter was blocked, he said, “You know, China is just like North Korea now. Well, not the same, but this kind of policy seems the same.”
So the question becomes: has China opened and modernized over the last 20 years, or is it still saddled with a big brother mindset? As you might imagine, the answer is yes. Both are quite clearly true.
And here is the irony of modern China. It would be impossible to label a country that has about 100,000 foreigners living in its capital city, allows discussion boards and access to most websites a “Hermit Kingdom.” It’s just not accurate. Most people can walk wherever they want, whenever they want. You can discuss pretty much anything with friends, even in a crowded restaurant. At the same time, there are about three topics that you need to be careful about (tanks, Tibet and Taiwan). You can’t read the Huffington Post or watch YouTube. Reports I heard said that there were hundreds of plain clothes police in and around the square today. It is extremely open and yet oddly closely. Both of these realities are simultaneously true.
And this is why there are such muddled ideas about China. It has one foot clearly 20 years ahead of the world curve, but another remains jammed in the door that hasn’t yet fully opened.
I’m not sure where we go from here. In the American model, often we see change coming in the form of new waves of politicians. It bubbles up from non-establishment figures, often unexpectedly. We moved from malaise to Reagonomics because a politician came out and spoke directly to the people. And we moved from Bush, Clinton, Bush, to Obama, because he came out and seized an opportunity that no one gave him. It’s the same thing on the issues in America. George Will has pointed out that it doesn’t really matter where people stand on gay marriage because it’s a generational issue. If you’re under 35, odds are pretty good you don’t object. Do the math and it’s just a matter of time before it becomes and overwhelming majority of the population.
But in China, the leaders are often chosen because they do not have ideas terribly different from the previous generation. Sure, Deng Xiaoping broke the mold, taking the country in an entirely new direction (twice), but I’m not sure a politician like that can rise to the top anymore (particularly after the events of 20 years ago). So is the country doomed to incremental change on all fronts (or significant change on some and virtually none on the others)? I don’t know. There’s no model to look at.
So, 20 years later, the question remains: what kind of a country is China today?
dedlam responds:
Posted: June 4th, 2009 at 11:38 am →
My take 20 Years after the T-Square Massacre. http://snipr.com/jebpw.
It’s a tricky question to answer if China is better or worse now as a result of 20 years ago today.
Monica responds:
Posted: June 4th, 2009 at 5:26 pm →
The problem is China has only one administration party. If China had two or several, the situation would be totally different.
nanheyangrouchuan responds:
Posted: June 5th, 2009 at 3:18 am →
Deng Xiao Ping also split away from the Mao camp and was sent down, when the tides changed, he was in the right place at the right time, he was not elected to be a paradigm changer.
China is more modern but only more open at the convenience of the government.
When are the rest of you going to realize that the same attitudes that fueled the Boxer Rebellion and the GLF still exist and are still strong throughout Han China.
revi responds:
Posted: June 11th, 2009 at 2:12 pm →
Oddly appropriate to this entry, I would recommend the following article which you might find insightful and perhaps help answer your question about what many often see as its political ambiguity. What many non-Chinese just don’t seem to get is that reform and the pace of reform is not a zero-sum game.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KF11Ad01.html
eathoy responds:
Posted: June 30th, 2009 at 2:44 am →
for me,I would say china is half captalism and half communism country,and people hate the goverment but reply on the goverment in the same time,but I think after 30 years when my generation retire,china will be a big improved country(finger crossed)