Why David Shambaugh's 'Coming Chinese crackup' case is wrong
- By Stephen Harner
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E-mail Beijing Review, March 23, 2015
The third point is that party members are seemingly uninspired by much in Xi's positive agenda, like his "Chinese Dream" concept or his exhortation to follow the "mass line." I have spoken with a number of CPC cadres who have, with unfeigned sincerity, expressed profound appreciation and understanding toward this agenda. I believe their sincere support to be prevalent within the party. They see Xi's agenda and approach as a critically needed return to principles for the party.
Fourth, writes Shambaugh, "the corruption that riddles the party-state and the military also pervades Chinese society as a whole." He asserts that corruption is "stubbornly rooted in the single-party system, patron-client networks, an economy utterly lacking in transparency, a state-controlled media and the absence of the rule of law."
This statement reveals an astonishing naiveté about how things work in China. Yes, corruption is part of daily life, in the sense that no one seems to work only for their salary if they have an opportunity to negotiate something more on the side. But the economy and society have developed and hundreds of millions of people prospered within this system. Indeed, it is almost impossible to imagine—given Chinese culture and tradition—a different system. And, to judge by examples in Taiwan, elsewhere in Asia and, indeed, in the United States, it is highly doubtful that the accoutrements of a democratic pluralism that he cites would make any material difference.
Shambaugh's fifth indicator is China's economy which "is stuck in a series of systematic traps from which there is no easy exit."
I have a prediction: For the remaining eight years of the leadership of Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, and the rest of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee, China will successfully "exit" or at least avoid the "systematic traps" it is economic development path, and will emerge stronger, more prosperous, and more globally engaged and competitive.
This success will have much to owe to the resolute, focused approach being taken by Xi to break down the greatest barrier to development, which is a CPC debilitated by internal corruption and a loss of ideological purpose and vision.
(Source: Forbes.com)
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