Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Keeping the Dissidents in Check
Epitomised by the infamous and tragic crackdown on protesters in Tiān'ānmén Square in
1989, the Chinese government is known for its hard stance on dissenting voices. The per-
sonal struggles of blind civil-rights activist Chen Guangcheng made waves across the in-
ternational media in 2012 when the self-trained lawyer, who had been under virtual house
arrest in his home village for nearly two years, escaped and took refuge in the US em-
bassy in Běijīng. Chen wanted to flee China, but feared for his family's safety if he did.
After weeks of high-level negotiations between Běijīng and US officials, he and his fam-
ily were granted US visas so that Chen could further his law studies in New York.
His case followed the high-profile arrest of dissident artist and Běijīng resident Ai Wei-
wei. The man who helped design the iconic National Stadium (aka the Bird's Nest) for the
2008 Olympic Games had since ruffled the feathers with his criticism of the Chinese gov-
ernment. He was seized at Běijīng Airport in 2011 and placed under house arrest for al-
most three months. Police raided his art studios just outside 798 Art District, and when
eventually he was released, he faced a ¥12 million tax fine.
Political dissidents are nothing new for Běijīng, but the speed with which ideas now
spread among the population is. China now has the world's highest number of netizens,
and microblogging websites such as Wēibó spread news and gossip like wildfire before
China's army of censors are able to muffle the messages.
Maintaining Harmony
Muzzling dissent is only part of the picture. The new government must maintain its own
credibility. Two of the things Beijingers complain about most when it comes to politics
are corruption among politicians and the growing inequality between rich and poor,
neither of which are easy to denounce when so many of China's leaders, including Xi, are
so-called 'princelings' from wealthy, privileged backgrounds. Those people hoping that
Xi's new tenure might bring about political reform, though, should probably prepare to be
disappointed. Xi stands amongst the more conservative ranks of the government and if
anything he is likely to support stronger government controls and less transparency than
before, meaning Beijingers (along with the rest of the world) will continue to be left
guessing at the government's next move.
Continued Economic Growth
Of course, all these issues can be forgiven so long as the economy doesn't falter. If living
standards continue to rise, people here are much more likely to remain content. But the
