On March 18, 2008, at the closing of China’s National People’s Congress, the leader of the Chinese regime, Wen Jiabao stated, “This will likely be the most difficult year for the Chinese economy.”
Many would consider Wen’s comment to be only half right. The Chinese economy has encountered significant calamities, both natural and man-made, making for difficult situations. However, some experts say that this is absolutely not the “most difficult” time the Chinese economy will face, but just the beginning of something much worse.
This is not the first time the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has encountered an economic crisis. The most major was the disastrous "Great Leap Forward" which resulted in the period known as the “Three Year Famine,” when 30 million people starved to death between 1959 to 1961. The famine was later falsely called a "Three-Year Natural Disaster" by the Party.
By contrast China’s current economy has a GDP that still appears to be increasing, and a relatively large foreign reserve—although much of this is tied to foreign bonds. Moreover, the country has seen repeated increases in both the income for government officials at various levels and the national revenue.
However, despite the prosperity described above, the CCP’s sense of recklessness could be even more dramatic than during the 60s. Why?
The CCP regime’s legality is built on an ideology the proceeds the period of reform and openness seen during the nation’s economically prosperous period. Especially after June 4, 1989, China completely transferred to a more economic focus. This transition is known by many. What people still don’t realize is that the CCP is using this new system to negate its old one. However with the old ideology being completely negated, this new system will be completely lost in this economic crisis, leaving nothing for the Chinese people
The nation’s reform and openness in recent decades has made a clear target of the CCP’s system. People can measure the success of this new system by considering whether the economy is developed or declining, or whether people can afford medical service, housing, and schools.
As a result the CCP’s reform and openness policy opens a convenient door for governmental corruption at various levels. This system depends upon a prosperous and growing economy to gain favor with the people. In order to maintain its power, the CCP must prove that it can deliver.
China has a government, intent on demonstrating its legitimacy, that will “drain the pond to catch the fish,” as the old saying goes. It has been so driven by a quick paced development, that it has brought severe ecological damage and moral degeneration to the country as a consequence.
Governments of democratic countries also have responsibilities for developing a nation’s economy. Yet it differs from the economic development of the CCP in three fundamental ways:
First, let’s take the United States as an example: the Republican Party’s defeat in the 2008 General Election was directly related to the economic crisis. As a result, this party lost control of the White House. The result is not so simple for the CCP, as it will face being brought to justice if it loses power.
Second, if the U.S. economy doesn’t run well, people cannot simply target all their anger toward the Republican Party and George W. Bush, because Bush or the Republican Party did not have all the power, especially after 2006, when the Democratic Party seized the majority of seats in both houses. In contrast, the CCP alone holds all the power in China, and must naturally bear full responsibility for whatever befalls the country.
Third, the leader of a democratic country is chosen from elections. If the economy is bad under a certain leader, he or she can only stay in power within the duration of a term even though the economy is not good. With the CCP, however, it faces resistance and challenges from Chinese people all the time.
Therefore, economic development has become of sole importance to the CCP. It has destroyed a host of constitutional rights, including the freedoms of belief, expression, and association, stripped millions of their homes, and taken privately owned property by force, all in the name of "economic development." Yet this “economic development at any cost” policy may be the end to the party itself.
For decades, the CCP has encouraged people to pursue material desires, advocating for an unbridled hedonism to divert attention. Perhaps it did not realize that when people become obsessed with their own selfish desires, they lose the ability to endure suffering for the ultimate good of the country. Once their desires can no longer be met, people’s discontent will be directly aimed at the CCP. The economic crisis will evolve into both political and social crisis.
The emergence of Falun Gong gave the CCP an opportunity to recover the moral standard once treasured in ancient Chinese society. Yet, instead of adopting these time-honored traditions, the CCP and Jiang Zemin began a brutal persecution of Falun Gong, in what may have been the most foolish action in history.
Consider this: since the CCP seized control of China in 1949, major events have occurred in every year ending in 9: The year 1959 was marked by the Great Famine. There was a war between China and the Soviet Union in 1969, the Sino-Vietnam War in 1979, the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, and the suppression of Falun gong in 1999. We are now at the dawn of another chapter: 2009. Despite continued promises of success and prosperity, for several decades the CCP has brought repeated disasters to China. Now is our opportunity to wake up, and help our fellow countrymen to see the light. Spread the “Nine Commentaries” in the New Year and help China return to its former glory.
