In Hindsight: Summer Reading for China’s Leaders
Every August, the Chinese leadership heads to the seaside resort of Beidaihe to discuss the country's future. FP dips into its archives to offer them something to mull over on the beach.
"If China's leaders and populace knew precisely where they wanted to go and how they wanted to get there, prophecy would be safer. But as people in China often say, the reforms have been largely a process of 'crossing the river by groping along the rocks.'" -Judy Polumbaum "Dateline China: The People's Malaise" (Winter 1990-91)
"If China’s leaders and populace knew precisely where they wanted to go and how they wanted to get there, prophecy would be safer. But as people in China often say, the reforms have been largely a process of ‘crossing the river by groping along the rocks.’" -Judy Polumbaum "Dateline China: The People’s Malaise" (Winter 1990-91)
"[I]t would be truly charitable to assign a ‘C+’ to Beijing’s leaders. The level of popular dissatisfaction remains uncomfortably high: In a survey of urban residents, only 35.6 percent were satisfied with their current conditions. … [I]t would not be wise for the leadership to take the Chinese people’s patience for granted." -Minxin Pei "Cracked China" (September/October 2001)
"If the Chinese are smart, they will not pick a fight over Taiwan now. This is not the time. What they should do is concentrate on building their economy to the point where it is bigger than the U.S. economy. Then they can translate that economic strength into military might and create a situation where they are in a position to dictate terms." -John Mearsheimer "Clash of the Titans" (January/February 2005)
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