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Sun, Feb 23, 1997
Unity On All Sides
two perspectives on national unity and cohesion in ChinaMilitary: 'Control of Army Is Crucial Issue for China Rulers' is on the front page of today's New York Times. The article examines the role of the military in mainland China's politics and society. It is worth remembering that the establishment of the PRC was as much the result of a military victory, as it was a victory of the CCP's ideologies and practices for uniting, rebuilding and leading the mainland.
Jiang Zemin for the past few years has been skillfully promoting younger and more technocratic military officers to higher positions of authority, says the paper. Yet, it is uncertain to what extent the military is loyal to him. In such an equation, the two top military commanders, Adm. Liu Huaqing, 80, and Gen. Zhang Zhen, 82, command much power, by dint of their age, experience in the revolution and their position as "the principal vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission that Jiang chairs", notes the paper. Speculation is that Jiang will attempt to retire these two commanders at the 15th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party this October.
Of particular importance to the military is Taiwan, for many officers would reclaim the island province by force, if Taiwan were to declare its independence. The New York Times quotes a senior Chinese military officer who conveyed such a stance, adding that force would be used regardless if the U.S. intervened or not. To what extent this sentiment is shared throughout the military is unclear in the article. But in order to tie up support from the military, Jiang has played a balancing act on the Taiwan question, most recently by holding menacing wargames during the lead up to Taiwan's first-ever Presidential elections last Spring. The Times writes, however, that Jiang would prefer to keep the Taiwan question on the 'back burner' and press forward with economic development.
The Times article also notes that the military is rapidly upgrading its dated hardware, and such efforts will require more and more money from a cash-strapped central government. Equally important to this problem are centrifugal forces being created at the provincial and local levels by the whirlwind of economic reforms. Both impinge on the power of the central government and factor largely into all questions put before Jiang Zemin, especially now that Deng has died. (Note: the New York Times on-line edition is free, but requires that users register a name and password, and therefore first-time users should first introduce themselves on the Times registration page.)
See also: 'Military to have say in China' is the headline at the Houston Chronicle. Richard Halloran writes about the power of the military in China's economy, politics and society.
[Note: the Houston Chronicle on-line edition is free, but requires that users register a name and password, and therefore first-time users should first introduce themselves on the Houston Chronicle registration page.]Ethnic problems: the Far Eastern Economic Review has the most informative story that I have seen on the recent riots in Xinjiang. The Review's Beijing correspondent, Matt Forney, filed it from Kazakhstan, where he was able to interview a number of Uighur nationalists. Forney brings historical and international dimensions to the issue and offers a chronology and account of the events that transpired this month.
Forney notes that for many Uighur separatists the notion of attaining their own nation is not a dream but a 'memory,' for in the chaotic days of 1944 Western-Xinjiang declared its independence from China and established a 'quasi-independent Republic,' writes Forney. It was in 1950 that the PLA put this to an end.
The recent riots have tarnished China's standing in the Muslim world, and now governments in the Middle East, Pakistan and Turkey have taken notice of China's treatment of its Muslim people. Forney notes that China has long courted these countries, especially those in the Middle East, because China needs, among other things, secure and steady supplies of oil to fuel its economic expansion. The riots and subsequent crackdown could not have occurred at a worse time for China---it is the holy month of Ramadan.
The extent of the violence in this month's riots is still unclear, but by Forney's reckoning the Chinese army showed little restraint when three groups of youths gathered on February 6 to demand the release of 200 Uighurs arrested two days earlier. The Chinese drew clubs and beat the people, arrested thirty-one of them, and then on February 8 executed them.
As can be seen from stories published over the past few days this version of events contradicts the account given by Beijing [See related stories below pertaining to Ethnic problems]. Because foreign correspondents are prohibited from investigating, it is difficult to ascertain the entire story. Regardless, however, the problems of ethnic nationalism, even among Han Chinese, will continue to exert pressure on Beijing.
(Note: the Far Eastern Economic Review on-line service is free, but requires that users register with them and login, and therefore first-time users should first introduce themselves on the FEER registration page.)