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The whiff of jasmine in Beijing
On Wednesday, the first media question raised in the golden hall of Beijing’s main political consultative body was inevitably on the chance of a jasmine revolution coming to China.
On Wednesday, the first media question raised in the golden hall of Beijing’s main political consultative body was inevitably on the chance of a jasmine revolution coming to China.
Since Middle East-inspired posts urging citizens in 18 cities to go on protest strolls every Sunday spread on banned Chinese websites, top officials including President Hu Jintao have called for ‘harmony’ and ‘guidance’ of online opinions to defuse tensions from uneven economic growth and inflation.
Over cups of green tea with journalists, an unfazed Zhao Qizheng, head of the foreign affairs committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, (CPPCC) dismissed as ‘absurd’ the idea of a ‘handful of people’ in a city of millions effecting change by shouting slogans.
“I can tell you in the clearest terms that I’m pretty confident the jasmine revolution will not happen in China,’’ he said, but conceded that a ‘small number of people do hope there will be turmoil and chaos in China’.
The 2,237-member CPPCC is non-elected and non-legislative. Its handpicked elite submit over 5,000 proposals per year, and advise the Chinese equivalent of a Parliament on policies and appointments.
The tour of its building, offered a rare chance to ask Zhao his thoughts on the Indian democracy. “India’s system fits India well. China’s system fits China well,’’ Zhao said, sticking to official stance that political reform in China will be on the communist party’s terms.
The ex-head of the cabinet information office said he reads international news every day and vigorously argued Hillary Clinton’s take on Internet freedom. “China will oppose all revolutions that foreign countries attempt to instigate,’’ he said in response to a question on blocked online searches for ‘jasmine’.
In the corner, a foreign ministry spokesperson quietly jotted notes as the meeting meant to focus on next month’s legislative session veered into dismissing ‘western’ speculation about potential unrest in China.
As the visit ended, Zhao told HT that he doesn’t read the Indian media except for its reports flagged in the Chinese media.
“India and China share the same destines. We are brothers,’’ he said. “We should not fight. We should not envy each other.’’
