Through these readings I am learning more about the patience and tolerance of the Chinese culture. While these virtues are admirable I think many are wondering how much longer the people of China will be tolerant to what we see as a lack of civil rights. Thirty years of growth has bought the CCP a lot of civil patience, but let’s see what happens when the world economy can no longer support this type of growth. Hopefully the CCP is right and reforms to the judicial system like what we saw in “the people’s court” will start to nurture civil rights in a harmonious way.

Let me state it differently ….

Economically, would China be even close to where it is today (much to the benefit of the USA, by the way — e.g., low interest rates), had the CCP not crushed the protests in T-square?

And why do you think the T-square protests and demonstrations where such a threat to stability in China? And perhaps even more importantly — why do you think ’stability’ is such a big deal and sensitive issue in China to so many people, not just the CCP folks?

However, whether these students recognize the symbols of the protests or not China has made huge economic changes. The symbol of Tank Man to the rest of the world caused changed in the global environment which affected China. The video mentioned that the symbol of Tank Man helped strengthen revolutionary movements within Russia. The fall of communism in Russia changed the political and economic landscape of the whole world, and China has definitely been affected by that. Even if you completely discount the affect of Ti**anm** Sq*#r^ within China, the protests had an effect on the rest of the world which would eventually affect China. So my answer to the million dollar question is still no, China would not be where it is today if Ti**anm** Sq*#r^ had not happened. However, as the world shrinks, the ability of the Chinese government to erase knowledge amongst its people will diminish and they will have to find new ways to maintain “stability” within their society.

These workers do not receive health or welfare benefits – no social services to speak of. They’re not allowed to live in the cities unless they’re employed in the factories or the construction sites. No job and they’re not allowed to stick around, as they don’t have residency cards, and the authorities do not want slums popping up. What a marginal existence. It’s also why the regime is worried – what happens if the economy slows and these people have no work? According to a 2006 national survey on migrant workers, 64 percent were males, and half of migrants were aged between 16 and 30. Where do these young men go?

The Chinese regime is stern, and at times brutal, but it doesn’t lack foresight. They are thinking 20, 30, 40 years down the road. What is their grand plan? What plans do they have for their migrant workforce? I found a list of the top 50 Chinese cities, population wise. They’re all well over two million inhabitants, and, needless to say, most of them we have never heard of. Will the more underdeveloped cities be filling up with more migrant workers, and will they be allowed to establish permanent residency there? How long will it be before these people start standing up for their rights? It seems their lives as migrant workers might be better than it is back on the farm, but not by a whole lot.