As the Chinese economy gets set to overtake that of the USA, the regime led by Xi
Jinping aims to assert its authority. Under Xi's predecessor, Deng Xiaoping, theChinese state bureaucracy opened up the country to both globalisation and themarket. However, this was not a sudden change, but one firmly regulated by theregime, which was determined to remain in full control. ---- The Chinesebureaucracy allowed Western corporations to come into China to produce goods forthe global market at low costs. This climaxed in China becoming the world'sgreatest industrial economy and largest exporter, moving well away from being apredominantly peasant economy.The Western powers hoped this would weaken the regime in China. However, underDeng's successor, Xi Jinping, the leadership of the Communist Party of China hasretained its hold over the economy. It continues to control a large number ofindustries owned by the State, and to exert its influence over so called privateenterprises, owned by entrepreneurs very much within the orbit of the Partyapparatus. These capitalists are some of the richest in the world, outdoing thoseRussian tycoons enriched by the liberalisation of the Russian economy.This rise to the top of the heap has worried large elements of the ruling classin the United States, concerned that the USA would lose its position as theworld's greatest power. This explains both the rhetoric of Trump and now ofBiden. However, other elements of the US ruling class are still eager to investin the Chinese economy and all the big banking houses and financial institutionsare keen to exploit the new market in China for savings investments.However, the massive industrialisation of China comes at a cost for the Chineseruling bureaucracy. The vastly increased working class has engaged in waves ofstrikes, and amongst the peasantry too, there have been a series of strugglesaround land issues. Of course, at the beginning of the process of opening up theeconomy to market forces came the events of Tiananmen Square in 1989. Up to amillion people mobilised around issues of corruption, freedom of the press andfreedom of speech, concerns over the widening gap between the newly rich and themany who remained in poverty, as well as other issues. The Party bureaucracyretaliated by bringing in armed forces and crushing the protest, resulting in alarge number of deaths estimated at between several hundreds and severalthousands. The Tiananmen events convinced the Communist Party leadership that itmust retain strict control over the economy and over the political and culturallife of China.New factors came with Hong Kong becoming a Special Administrative Region of Chinain 1997. The mass unrest there over the increasing pressure from the Beijingauthorities and their influence over the local administration has deeply worriedthe Communist Party bureaucracy, affrighted that the unrest could spread to therest of China.Other factors have come into play as well. Chief among these is the phenomenon oftang ping. This can be translated as ‘lying flat' and has spread among Chineseyouth, both among young workers and students. Sickened by an economy whichdemands a working week of six full days from 9am to 9pm, many have determined todo as little as possible at work. This has resulted in the Communist Partyinitiating a number of measures aimed at clamping down on what it sees asWesternising influences and ranges from karaoke to computer games. The largenumber of students who have been allowed to study at universities in the Westundoubtedly must also be having an influence in importing what are seen asdangerous ideas.Alongside the clamping down within the ‘People's Republic' has been the driveagainst dissent in Hong Kong. The latest example of this has been the decision bythe University of Hong Kong to cut up and remove the Pillar of Shame monumentcommemorating the dead of Tiananmen Square. Erected in 1997, the statue wasabruptly demolished on Wednesday December 22nd. The Goddess of Democracy statue,a replica of the original one in Tiananmen Square, at the Chinese University ofHong Kong was removed soon after, as was the Tiananmen Relief Sculpture atLingnan University. This follows on from the stripping of posters from ‘democracywalls' on the campus. Alongside this has been a general campaign of repressionagainst dissidents, who have been imprisoned or driven into exile.Erased: Pillar of Shame monument, University of Hong KongThe dismantling of these monuments is highly symbolic. It indicates thedetermination of the Chinese Communist Party to maintain its control. InSeptember Hong Kong's main group mobilising in memory of the victims of TiananmenSquare was forced to disband. The previous year, the Hong Kong authorities hadbanned the annual candlelight vigils commemorating Tiananmen Square.Whether the Communist Party can maintain its control, not just in Hong Kong butthroughout the so-called People's Republic remains to be seen. It is possiblethat titanic struggles could shake the Chinese State over the coming years.Meanwhile in order to facilitate its marketisation of the Chinese economy and itsclampdown, the Chinese Communist Party has increasingly resorted to nationalisticappeals, which includes shows of strength against Taiwan. Alongside this has beenthe Chinese State's horrendous treatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang.Erased: Tiananmen Relief Sculpture at Lingnan UniversityErased: Goddess of Democracy, Chinese University of Hong Konghttps://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2021/12/24/the-chinese-state-clamps-down-in-hong-kong-and-across-china/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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