Hu Shuli’s Caixin editorial on Egypt

Much is now being made of what China’s state-run media isn’t saying about the popular revolutions in the Middle East, which is hardly surprising.

But what is rather striking — bold and courageous — is the following Feb. 14 editorial published by the Chinese news and finance media company Caixin, which has recently been revamped under daring Editor in Chief Hu Shuli. As context, the opening lines are reacting to the common suggestion in the Chinese press that Egypt’s uprising has led to dangerous "social instability."

Autocracy creates instability; democratic deliberations lead to peace. Support for the replacement of an authoritarian regime would only serve short-term interests. Only the establishment of democratic institutions in the Middle East will form a fundamental basis for long-term stability.

Recently, the Arab world has experienced a tide of democratic expectations. But the situation in Egypt is particularly striking. On February 11, President Hosni Mubarak agreed to give up power and transfer authority to the military’s leadership. The Egyptian army issued a statement on the same day that it would ensure a smooth and orderly transfer of power and ensure that the upcoming presidential elections in September will be free, fair, and transparent …

The rest of the editorial (in Chinese) can be read at the magazine’s web site here. The author(s) examine everything from the role of U.S. pressure on Mubarak to questions about whether a democratic Egypt will become Islamist — a fear they largely dismiss.

Although it’s hard to read without thinking of the implications for China, the article, tellingly, never explicitly mentions China or domestic politics.