June 4th marks the nineteen year anniversary since the Tiananmen Square crackdown, when the great call for democracy from the Chinese masses was ruthlessly suppressed by force.
In response to intense pressure for political change, the People's call for democracy and freedom, Taiwan marched on the road towards democracy, as Chiang Chingguo lifted the ban on freedom of press and association. By contrast, in mainland China, the aftermath of the political crackdown ordered by Deng Xiaoping was political stagnancy and a slide backwards for China. This coincided with the colossal changes which followed the political collapse of the former Soviet Union and the debacle of the Eastern European Bloc, and the subsequent successful transition from autocracy to democracy in most of these countries.
China is greatly hailed for its economic achievement which is underpinned by foreign capital and domestic cheap labor. And this spike of success in economic achievement obscures serious social problem and self strangling political standstill.
Political and economic wheels hurtle this juggernaut of a locomotive forward. However, the sizes of the two wheels are different, which make derailment from this historical track inevitable.
A plethora of problems within China are deeply rooted in the dysfunction caused by the one party dictatorship system. It is wishful thinking and self deceiving to expect that China's current regime will consider abandoning is own vested interests to initiate the first steps of this long overdue political reform.
The Chinese regime has been very lucky in the past decades. Whenever the Western democracies shift their gaze towards China when signs appear that autocracy is to be addressed, they are easily shifted away by hot incidents taking place in other regions, for example, the Gulf War in 1991 and the "911" terrorist attacks.
The pro independence of Taiwan under both Presidents Lee Tunghui and Chen Shuibian made the relationship between the two political identities of PRC and ROC fall under the categories of "unification" and "separatism". Communist China made good use of this to fan nationalism and therefore secure its political grip on power. The change of leaders in Taiwan may alter the course to direct comparisons between the failings and benefits of the political systems on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, and then the ace card of nationalism will not be valid any more. A lot of this will rest on the political perspective of Taiwan's new President, Ma Ying-jeou, and his wisdom of how he plays the "democracy" card when dealing with his foe.
It could be perceived that the authoritarian Chinese political regime is like the mangrove roots holding the dead water of Chinese society, rendering it unable to express itself or to progress into a more ethical and liberal society.
It can also be perceived that the nature of the universe itself is warning China to bring the sins of its despotic governing power to an end. Ancient wise Dr. Dong Zhongshu quotes that there exists a correspondence between man and the universe. It states that once a country does something against the balance of nature, heaven sends a disaster to warn the government of its trespass and to deter the rulers from the error of their ways. Earthquake is considered to be the consequence of this bad governance and offence to the balance of nature, and has been attributed to be nature's response to despotism and bureaucratic arrogance under this doctrine.
The last earthquake in 1976 in Tangshan preceded the death of Chairman Mao by 43 days. Two years later Deng Xiaoping started the economic reform which is still the foundation of today's meteoric economic ascent. What is the implication of the earthquake hit Sichuan province on 12 May 2008?
Democracy is the rising sun of politics in the world. The communist regime is the setting sun in China – how long can it last? The Chinese word "Hui Guang Fan Zhao" means the final brilliant glow of the setting sun.
Killing 200,000 to secure the stability of the political control for 20 years was the mindset of the existing Chinese communist regime. That 20 year period is nearly up.
The former Soviet Union existed for over seventy years and Communist China is still alive at the age of fifty nine. It is nearing its demise. 2008 will be an eventful year for the Chinese Communist government. The number 8 has so far not brought any good fortune to the Chinese rulers and the will of heaven appears to be sending signs that this is the end of autocracy in many ways.
The most spectacular transition in the early era of this century will be the democratization of China, which will catapult this stagnant political system into taking its part of marching towards a better world. The Chinese masses should remain optimistic. The whole world will wait and see.
This article is dedicated to the memory of those young students and Beijing civilians who lost their lives whilst taking a stand for their commitment to democratic reform for China in the Tiananmen Square incident on 4 June 1989.
