Long road before Chinese civil society rules

Comments on Carolyn L. Hsu "Draft law may test resilience of Chinese civil society", 3/07/2015

China has undertaken unprecedented economic reforms as well as other reforms from a planned economy to a market economy and so far it has been very successful overall. The nature of reforms at that scale means something may be illegal today but becomes legal and normal tomorrow. Unfortunately there are uncertainties in that process, resulting in some people have become reformist heroes and some become law breakers (leaving aside those who have been deliberately corrupt and sin-minded).

Further, China has been used to ruling by people as opposed to ruling by law, although it seems the Chinese government and leadership are moving towards more ruling by law.

It is true that the Chinese president has been advocating self-confidence and self-proud of the communist party, the Chinese system and Chinese people, with implications for overseas influences. The leaked draft law concerning overseas not-government organisations should be considered in that context.

It is not necessarily all negative. For example, are the French wrong in terms of advocating their culture and creating some barriers for Hollywood products?

Further, if it is true that the Chinese government has made it difficult for the Chinese to register non-government organisations, it should not be too surprising for it to make it difficult for overseas NGAs. The Chinese government is used to having controls over people and that has probably not changed as much as its economic system.

PS as a response to the reply:
The Chinese government and its leadership probably do not wish to see foreign NGOs as a source of the so called colour revolutions that might happen in China. Domestically, they probably do not wish to see another Falungong type of NGO to appear to pose a threat to them. They wish to retain control or have control over NGOs to their advantages as opposed to being a threat to them. But it will be a fine balance act so NGOs can be thriving and have their positive roles in China, I hope.

A better alternative to trying corrupt those Chinese sinners in Australia

Comments on Neil Thomas "Australia: a haven for Chinese sinners?" 1/07/2015

The idea to try those suspects in Australia may be a good one, although a better alternative is to use the processes of cooperation with China to press China to be more transparent in its legal system at least for the cases of trying those suspects. The Australian government should make good use of opportunities offered by China's pursuit of corrupt people who have escaped overseas.

If Australia in conjunction with other countries such as the United States, Canada and some European countries can make China to make progress in being transparent and upholding fairness in its legal processes, it would be good not only for China, but also for the world. It will be really "hitting two birds with one stone".

China should improve press freedom

I personally don't know the real situation behind the report. But if it is true, then it is disturbing news. See: Isabelle Oderberg, "China's faltering free press", 14/10/2009, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Chinas-faltering-free-press-pd20091014-WSRFU?OpenDocument&src=sph

China should increase press freedom to further reforms to make it the world's most powerful country.

Press freedom can make the country better, reduce corruptions and improve the governance and welfare of the nation. It will strengthen the rule of law.

It should be part of the constraints to some unruly behaviour by some powerful people.

It is consistent with a harmonious nation.China should encourage more press freedom but not reduce it.

Chinese government should uphold the law and eliminate discrimination

Comments on Peter Yuan Cai “Between Scylla and Charybdis: the CCP’s minority policy dilemma”, 18/09/2009, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/09/18/between-scylla-and-charybdis-the-ccps-minority-policy-dilemma/

While it is difficult enough for the Chinese government to maintain appropriate balance between pleasing both domestic and international audiences, at stake is whether there is justice in China.

Many of China’s policies are discriminative, such as the family planning, religions, and household registration system, etc. The discriminations generally fall on Han people and people living in rural areas.

Chinese government can make its life easier by eliminating discriminations in its system.

Chinese government should improve its skills in dealing with both domestic and international people. There is nothing wrong in upholding justice and against violence, irrespective who are against the law and what ethnic groups they are from.