In China, an Event of Note

It’s a routine thing when citizens of a democracy criticize their government, or when the press in a free society acts without fear of retribution to expose and condemn government corruption, mismanagement or arbitrariness. But it is an event of some note when similar behavior is suddenly allowed in a country whose press is tightly controlled, and where open complaints about official actions are actively discouraged. Precisely that has happened now in China, though whether as an isolated incident or as a possible hint of a change in policy is by no means clear.

The precipitating event would anywhere else be minor enough. A photographer for a Peking newspaper, trying to do his job, was roughed up by security guards. A few days later his paper published an account of what occurred, and other papers picked up the story. The delay in recounting the incident was presumably due to the need to get prior official approval. What is significant is that this permission was given. Someone, probably a collective someone, saw value in allowing the highhandedness of lesser officials to be exposed.

A revolutionary development? Hardly. A gambit in a secretive battle for power among competing bureaucracies? Quite possibly. An indication that China’s greater economic liberality may open the way for a lessening of political restraints, at least where criticism of smaller-fry officials is concerned? Perhaps. There’s little doubt that a lot of people in China, journalists and others, are itching for greater freedom of expression. A couple of times in the 35 years since the Communists took power, in 1957 and again briefly 20 years later, open dissent was in fact encouraged, only to be followed by a new clampdown.

In the light of harsh experience the Chinese are cautious when it comes to criticizing their regime. Official encouragement of complaints given today can be withdrawn tomorrow. Still, a venting of grievances has been allowed. Many Chinese, and others, are waiting to see if there will be more.