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It seems that the bulk of foreign media reports about China’s reforms have limited their focus to changes in China’s economic setup with little mention paid to its political reform. Actually, since China carried out the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, it has not only made fundamental changes to its economic system but also implemented a series of important reforms to its political institutions.
Reforms in leadership
institutions
The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the country’s ruling party and has always advocated the development of democracy. Before the reform and opening up, the development of the country’s political system was hindered by the lifelong tenure of state and Party leadership and over concentration of power at the top of the leadership chain.
After the launch of the reform and opening up in the late 1970s, the CPC leaders made great efforts to reform the state and Party leadership institutions, establishing a retirement system, fixed-term tenure system and collective leadership system for the heads of the Party and the state. Starting from the 15th CPC National Congress in 1997, each plenum of the CPC renewed the members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, the Political Bureau and the Central Committee, particularly the 16th National Congress of the CPC which marked the succession from the third generation of leadership to the fourth. Both the transition of power and the replacement of officials were completed steadily and smoothly, indicating that the succession system of the leadership of the Party and the state has been established and consolidated. Although China does not exercise periodical multi-party elections, it has evolved a system of renewing administration and policies with Chinese characteristics. This is an unprecedented achievement of China’s political development, reflecting the significant and profound progress of China’s political system.
The 17th National Congress of CPC held in 2007 marked the further deepening of China’s reform to the Party and state leadership institutions, which featured the fact that more opinions from lower level institutions had been considered in deciding the formation of the core leadership. Before the 17th national congress, a poll
about the candidates for membership of the CPC Political Bureau was carried out among 400 senior officials, which was different from the previous way of the formation of the core leadership. This reform is a milestone of the inner-Party democratic progress of the CPC.
Governing by law
The CPC has been trying to govern the state through law since the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy. Chinese society has been gradually transformed from one governed by officials to one governed by rules and laws, a profound change in China’s political system. Meanwhile, China has made great achievements in running the state by law.
First, China has enacted laws covering every aspect of society. Up to the spring of 2011, it has introduced more than 230 laws, more than 690 administrative regulations, more than 8,600 local regulations, and more than 600 regulations applicable in ethnic autonomous regions.
Second, the existing laws and regulations have been amended and improved to safeguard human rights and political rights of citizens. For example, the Amendment to the Criminal Law of China passed in 1997 abolished the principle of “presumption of guilt.” In the Amendment to the Constitution of China passed in 2004, the statement that“the state respects and safeguards human rights” was added.
Currently, the second amendment to the Criminal Law has been included into the legislation agenda during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15). It is widely believed that the principle of the “presumption of innocence” will be added to the amendment. Another example,
the Regulations on Open Government Information of China took effect on May 1, 2008, advancing a transparent policymaking process within government and safeguarding citizens’ right to know, which promotes people’s participation in political affairs. The modification and amendment of laws and regulations is a complicated political process, which involved the change of political and juristic thoughts, as well as the adjustment of the relations between citizens and the government and among the judiciary departments of the government.
Third, China has reestablished law enforcement agencies since the late 1970s. It has improved the law enforcement system of public security, procuratorate and court, and has straightened out their relations to ensure that laws are enforced. The lawyer system has also been reestablished in China. After 1992, the status of lawyers has been transformed from government employees to individual professionals, which ensures that civil rights are better safeguarded.
Social construction development
The relations between state and society are the major content of a country’s political system. Since the reform and opening up, the CPC and the Central Government have made constant reforms, and adjusted the relations between state and society, providing wider channels for people to express their opinions.
Along with the growth of the private sector in the national economy and the deepening strategic adjustment of stateowned enterprises, Chinese people are enjoying broader and freer choices in all aspects of their life, such as migrating, choosing residence, medical care, education, entertainment and consumption. With the emergence and growth of the private sector, Chinese citizens have shown greater interest in expressing and forming associations. Today, it is common for Chinese citizens to criticize the government’s policies and officials’behavior. Chinese people have founded more than 300,000 non-governmental organizations (NGO) for various purposes including charity, mutual help, environmental protection, and safeguarding their various rights.
These NGOs have become an important platform for people to contribute their creativity to society, playing an active role in advancing people’s livelihood and social undertakings. In addition, the Chinese Government is exploring and trying out new methods to administer NGOs.
In short, China’s political reform has achieved great progress within the past 30 years since the implementation of the reform and opening up. The above three aspects summarize the political reform from the perspectives of the leadership structure and safeguarding civil rights.
Apart from these perspectives, there are some other perspectives to observe and study China’s political reform. No matter whatever angles are approached, it can be concluded that China’s political reform is continually moving forward.
However, the current political reform is still evolving, and there are many difficulties and problems in China’s political system, which need to be adjusted according to the changes of domestic and international conditions.
The CPC is fully aware of this reality and will continue advancing China’s political reform with an active attitude.
Reforms in leadership
institutions
The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the country’s ruling party and has always advocated the development of democracy. Before the reform and opening up, the development of the country’s political system was hindered by the lifelong tenure of state and Party leadership and over concentration of power at the top of the leadership chain.
After the launch of the reform and opening up in the late 1970s, the CPC leaders made great efforts to reform the state and Party leadership institutions, establishing a retirement system, fixed-term tenure system and collective leadership system for the heads of the Party and the state. Starting from the 15th CPC National Congress in 1997, each plenum of the CPC renewed the members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, the Political Bureau and the Central Committee, particularly the 16th National Congress of the CPC which marked the succession from the third generation of leadership to the fourth. Both the transition of power and the replacement of officials were completed steadily and smoothly, indicating that the succession system of the leadership of the Party and the state has been established and consolidated. Although China does not exercise periodical multi-party elections, it has evolved a system of renewing administration and policies with Chinese characteristics. This is an unprecedented achievement of China’s political development, reflecting the significant and profound progress of China’s political system.
The 17th National Congress of CPC held in 2007 marked the further deepening of China’s reform to the Party and state leadership institutions, which featured the fact that more opinions from lower level institutions had been considered in deciding the formation of the core leadership. Before the 17th national congress, a poll
about the candidates for membership of the CPC Political Bureau was carried out among 400 senior officials, which was different from the previous way of the formation of the core leadership. This reform is a milestone of the inner-Party democratic progress of the CPC.
Governing by law
The CPC has been trying to govern the state through law since the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy. Chinese society has been gradually transformed from one governed by officials to one governed by rules and laws, a profound change in China’s political system. Meanwhile, China has made great achievements in running the state by law.
First, China has enacted laws covering every aspect of society. Up to the spring of 2011, it has introduced more than 230 laws, more than 690 administrative regulations, more than 8,600 local regulations, and more than 600 regulations applicable in ethnic autonomous regions.
Second, the existing laws and regulations have been amended and improved to safeguard human rights and political rights of citizens. For example, the Amendment to the Criminal Law of China passed in 1997 abolished the principle of “presumption of guilt.” In the Amendment to the Constitution of China passed in 2004, the statement that“the state respects and safeguards human rights” was added.
Currently, the second amendment to the Criminal Law has been included into the legislation agenda during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15). It is widely believed that the principle of the “presumption of innocence” will be added to the amendment. Another example,
the Regulations on Open Government Information of China took effect on May 1, 2008, advancing a transparent policymaking process within government and safeguarding citizens’ right to know, which promotes people’s participation in political affairs. The modification and amendment of laws and regulations is a complicated political process, which involved the change of political and juristic thoughts, as well as the adjustment of the relations between citizens and the government and among the judiciary departments of the government.
Third, China has reestablished law enforcement agencies since the late 1970s. It has improved the law enforcement system of public security, procuratorate and court, and has straightened out their relations to ensure that laws are enforced. The lawyer system has also been reestablished in China. After 1992, the status of lawyers has been transformed from government employees to individual professionals, which ensures that civil rights are better safeguarded.
Social construction development
The relations between state and society are the major content of a country’s political system. Since the reform and opening up, the CPC and the Central Government have made constant reforms, and adjusted the relations between state and society, providing wider channels for people to express their opinions.
Along with the growth of the private sector in the national economy and the deepening strategic adjustment of stateowned enterprises, Chinese people are enjoying broader and freer choices in all aspects of their life, such as migrating, choosing residence, medical care, education, entertainment and consumption. With the emergence and growth of the private sector, Chinese citizens have shown greater interest in expressing and forming associations. Today, it is common for Chinese citizens to criticize the government’s policies and officials’behavior. Chinese people have founded more than 300,000 non-governmental organizations (NGO) for various purposes including charity, mutual help, environmental protection, and safeguarding their various rights.
These NGOs have become an important platform for people to contribute their creativity to society, playing an active role in advancing people’s livelihood and social undertakings. In addition, the Chinese Government is exploring and trying out new methods to administer NGOs.
In short, China’s political reform has achieved great progress within the past 30 years since the implementation of the reform and opening up. The above three aspects summarize the political reform from the perspectives of the leadership structure and safeguarding civil rights.
Apart from these perspectives, there are some other perspectives to observe and study China’s political reform. No matter whatever angles are approached, it can be concluded that China’s political reform is continually moving forward.
However, the current political reform is still evolving, and there are many difficulties and problems in China’s political system, which need to be adjusted according to the changes of domestic and international conditions.
The CPC is fully aware of this reality and will continue advancing China’s political reform with an active attitude.