China Times: China hates Cultural Revolution-style extremism

[beijingwalker]

China Times: China hates Cultural Revolution-style extremism
2012/03/18 17:16:36

The sacking of Chongqing City party secretary Bo Xilai last week was an indication that the Communist Party of China (CPC) hates extremism reminiscent of its Cultural Revolution, and is opting instead for a development mode that is stable and rational. This should serve China well and is also a positive sign for the future of cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

The so-called Chongqing model established by Bo Xilai has been compared to the Guangdong model. When Bo took up the No. 1 job in Chongqing in 2007, he established a new model characterized by overt adherence to leftist values and sweeping crackdowns on organized crime.

Bo's heavy-handed leftist approach extended to areas such as the judiciary, education, freedom of speech, the media and even freedom of thought. The similarity to the catastrophic Cultural Revolution of 1966-76 caught the attention of some democratic activists in China, who warned that Chongqing under Bo Xilai's rule represented a revival of Maoist extremism.

For example, according to Chinese scholar Tong Zhiwei, who did a study of Bo's crime-busting campaign, the crackdowns were so brutal that law enforcers could implicate whomever they wanted, in complete disregard of legal procedures -- to the point of using violence to stop violence.

Tong cited the infamous example of Li Jun, a private business owner who was chased on trumped-up charges and forced to flee to Thailand and other countries where he lived in abject poverty. No one dared raise any questions concerning Bo's methods of "pursuing criminals."

In contrast, in Guangdong province, party secretary Wang Yang has honored a tradition established by his predecessors such as Xi Zhongxun, father of China's next expected leader Xi Jinping, which focuses on a mild and gradual improvement of the market mechanism.

According to Professor Xiao Bin of Guangzhou's Sun Yat-sen University, the so-called Guangdong model values the rule of law, offering new options for urban governance and reform projects in China.

Xiao said the Chongqing model may look brilliant and impressive, but the Guangdong model apparently better meets public expectations over the long term.

Now the Bo style is being purged and Chongqing media have voiced their support for Beijing's call for "progress through stability" -- a rejection of the leftists' radical adventurism.

This is an indication that the CPC is tired of the crazy power struggle of the Cultural Revolution and people simply wanted to stay away from excessive individual heroism.

It has been pointed out that in Beijing's Taiwan affairs circle there are some radical "unificationists" who would like to see a speedy unification of Taiwan and China, much to the top leadership's annoyance.

We hope Bo's dismissal would teach those kinds of people that radicalism and extremism are not in line with public expectations or in keeping with the times. (March 18, 2012)

 

[longyi]

For the well being of Chinese people, stability is indeed crucial at this stage of development in China. Citizens of all strata worked tirelessly for the past 3 decades and just begin to see some fruitful results. More works are needed to bring up those that still left behind. It will be a shame if some groups of radical adventurists gain power and disrupt this difficult but smooth process of advancement.

Fortunately, for China, there are many rational members in the Standing Committee still have the pluralism to stem out these extremists. China and her people have suffered and humiliated enough for the past two centuries due to these social chaos and turbulence. It is the time to move ahead peacefully.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

Whoever our enemies praise, we must steadfastly oppose.

Whoever our enemies oppose, we must resolutely support.