Barry Naughton on the Chinese Government's Social Concerns
China's Leaders Increasingly Challenged by Social Unrest
12/16/2011
William Ide,
Voice of America
Over the past year, China’s leadership has faced growing eruptions of public discontent over issues ranging from environmental and transportation safety concerns, to labor disputes and local corruption.
Consider the scene in the southeastern fishing village of Wukan, where hundreds of residents, young and old, raise their fists and voices calling for justice and chanting slogans such as the "Blood debt must be paid" and "Return our farm land."
For months, Wukan residents have been protesting, denouncing local officials they say are corrupt and demanding the return of farm land they say was illegally seized for development.
The protests peaked in December when one of the town's representatives, Xue Jinpo, died in police custody. Residents took control of Wukan, forcing Communist Party officials to flee and police to cordon off the village. Chinese authorities say Xue died of heart failure, but residents suspect foul play.
Click here to read the full article.
Related Links
Barry Naughton is Sokwanlok Chair of Chinese International Affairs. He is Professor of Chinese economy, with an emphasis on issues relating to industry, trade, finance, and China's transition to a market economy. Recent research focuses on regional economic growth in the People's Republic of China and the relationship between foreign trade and investment and regional growth.
