U.S. ambassador: Political situation in China “very, very delicate”

Posted By Josh Rogin Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 6:16 PM Share

The Chinese people are increasingly frustrated with the Chinese Communist Party and the political situation in China is "very, very delicate," U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke said on Wednesday.

"I do believe that there is a power of the people, and there is a growing frustration among the people over the operations of government, corruption, lack of transparency, and issues that affect the Chinese people on a daily basis that they feel are being neglected," Locke told NPR's Steve Inskeep during a Wednesday interview, part of a media blitz Locke is conducting during his visit to Washington.

"Do you think that the situation is fundamentally stable in China right now?" Inskeep asked Locke.

"I think, very delicate -- very, very delicate," Locke responded. "But there were calls earlier this year for a Jasmine Revolution and nothing came of it. I think it would take something very significant, internal to China, to cause any type of major upheaval."

Locke said that since he took over the ambassadorship from former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, he has become aware of public demonstrations large and small throughout China that ordinary people were using to pressure the government to address their grievances. He singled out a recent protest in the southern Chinese city of Wukan over the confiscation of land without reasonable compensation.

"[The people] basically prevented anybody from the outside from coming in and brought the city to a halt and forced the Chinese government communist leaders to send people to address their grievances," Locke said.

The discord inside China is partly a result of the income and wealth disparity between China's growing middle class and the masses of poor, rural residents, Locke said. He also said the Chinese government's human rights record was worsening.

"[I]t's very clear that in the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and since then, there's been a greater intolerance of dissent -- and the human rights record of China has been going in the wrong direction," said Locke.

Asked for comment at today's State Department press briefing, spokeswoman Victoria Nuland backed up Locke's comments on human rights and the rule of law in China.

"[Locke] obviously speaks for the administration in expressing continued concern that we seem to have an increasing trend of crackdowns, forced disappearances, extralegal detentions, arrests and convictions of human rights activists, lawyers, religious leaders, ethnic minorities in China," she said.

But Nuland declined to repeat Locke's assertion that the Chinese government was potentially unstable.

"I think our message to the Chinese government on these issues is the same message that we give around the world when we have human rights concerns, that governments are stronger when they protect the human rights of their people and when they allow for peaceful dissent," she said.

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JKWTRADING

12:00 AM ET

January 19, 2012

he is giving quite a true

he is giving quite a true comparison to our government.
Our government is as stable a drunk at .30 alcohol content

JEFF HARRISON

12:13 PM ET

January 19, 2012

China, and the 200 million man army

Revelation 9:14-16

BENTH165

1:08 AM ET

January 19, 2012

Can we draw a comparison?

The only difference between the United States and China is in name of the regime only. Both squelch dissent at the end of a club and both dictate to their citizenship what they can or cannot do.
If Americans still think we are not a Socialist country, you had better rethink just what is happening to us little by little. Our government tries to hide that this is going on, while China is overt and transparent about their actions.
Both governments have lost the ability to govern such a large state and prefer to just pull punches when it suits them. Our country is run by the Banking Cartels, (FED, IMF, ECB, etc....). China's central government owns the banks, so tell me what is the difference.
The only difference I can see, is that the United States is warring upon multiple nations to ensure the continued supply of consumable resources, while China does not yet. But seeing as how China has a Trillion or more dollars in reserve, the USA, doesn't have a chance of catching up unless we devalue the dollar, which will send China and almost every other nation into a tail spin, which in itself is provocation for war.
We basically did the same thing to Japan thus provoking them into a no win situation. So they attacked.
Ok, Ok, ( I now it's not exactly the same ), so tell me where did Japan get all that steel and aluminum to build all those Carriers, Battleships and Planes.... FROM US
When our international politics are aimed at "SCREWING" whoever does not tow our line, that in itself is provocation enough.

So, to bring my diatribe home. This guy is aiming at hyping the American public against China and trying to set the stage for our government to form our opinions such that we support whatever action they deem necessary in dealing with China in the South China Sea.... WATCH OUT PEOPLE YOU ARE BEING MANIPULATED PURE AND SIMPLE !!!

BAYBOAT

2:57 AM ET

January 19, 2012

In China you would already be under arrest for the content of your post. So, if youre reading this, and you're NOT in a federal "re education camp" your post has been proven wrong.

CONCERNED CITIZEN

3:39 AM ET

January 19, 2012

Little Difference Between China and U.S.

Correct. There is little difference anymore between China and the U.S, compared to the not so distant past. Both run massive spying organizations on their citizens (in the U.S. emails and web visits have been saved since 1997 that I know of), both have a power class that strips the wealth of the ordinary people and both are living under some form of Marxism.

Most of the 10 planks of the Communist Manifesto are here now in the U.S. (Central Bank, progressive income tax, public schools, etc.). Many of the Chinese friends I have are surprised at how Marxist things are here in the U.S., the main difference is the level of violence used by the government in China to maintain power and this isn't yet visible in the U.S. From the way things are going with NDAA and other rights stripping legislative actions, things in the U.S. are moving in the Chinese direction. Even Sen. Lieberman thinks the way the Chinese censor the internet would be a good thing here in the U.S.

The Chinese Communists have long used violence and murdered up to 80M people since taking over in 1947 and they still do outrageous things like persecute Falun Gong practitioners through imprisonment, torture and death. The flaws in the Chinese model will become apparent soon, as will the flaws in the U.S. model.

ELVISX

4:37 AM ET

January 19, 2012

Really???

The idea that the US government and Chinese government are interchangeable and different in name only is ridiculous plain and simple. As one of the other commenters noted you would already be incarcerated for this criticism if you were in Communist China. Although you likely wouldn't have even been able to read this article in the first place due to the Chinese censorship of the internet.

I am so tired of the American relativist who see no differences between any national government. They are all bad with the US being the worst of the bunch with our diabolical machinations and hunger for oil and blood and blah, blah, blah...yawn. (Personally I think US diabolical machinations could be much better...we seem to be subpar in the cloak and dagger department. I can think of a dozen countries who have superior intelligence agencies).

So for all of the left wing, self-loathing US bashers. Take a breath, come out of your parents basement you are living in and get some sunshine and smile because you are living in the greatest country in the world. Don't be angry at the government because you are not able to make any money on your BS degree in Feminist Lesbian Dolphin studies.

For all of the anarchist, paranoid libertarians please take a breath as well. Open the vault door to your underground bunker and step into the fresh and free air of the US of A. Please don't be angry at the government because Ron Paul will never be elected president. It's not a conspiracy...it's just because he is crazy.

Thank You,

ElvisX

BENTH165

12:36 PM ET

January 19, 2012

Elvis has bought the program

Gee Elvis, sounds like you bought the program hook line and sinker. Yes we may be the greatest nation on earth, but only because we borrowed ourselves into oblivion to maintain that illusion.
Sir, you really need to get an education on what is going on around you, and stop buying into the, "Love it or leave" mentality of the uneducated ignorant masses.
The splitting of hairs between which is worse, killing your citizens by the millions, or raping them of their hard work through deception does pose a conundrum for you doesn't it?
So I am assuming you would rather be a SLAVE than dead. I'll side with Patrick Henry when he said, "Give me liberty or give me death" !!!

Oh, I'm sorry; You don't think of yourself as a slave. Tsk Tsk We lost another one Earl...

DAN1975

1:26 PM ET

January 19, 2012

Disagree

I disagree with your premise that the US and China are equally repugnant totalitarian socialistic countries, a strong government of any kind can weather the discontent of small groups. A weak government of any kind cannot tolerate protests, etc. because of the real possibility of toppling the government. With the amount of toleration that has been shown to Tea party and to OWS protests in the recent past, I also would have a hard time saying that the US and China are at all comparable in terms of robustness of government. Regardless of what ships, nukes, armies, etc China is able to field, regardless of how large their foreign reserves, if you can't handle a few kids camping out and making a nuisance of themselves without calling in the army you are weak. Yes I am aware that some of the OWS protests were broken up, but how long were they allowed to go on before that happened? Were the protesters rounded up and shot or imprisoned? The US can worry about China when the US can't respond to criticism without throwing a tantrum, until then...meh.

CALVIN C

6:21 PM ET

January 19, 2012

In China

I live in China and can read this.
I read lots of different articles in China about politics and such from FP and other news sites.

I do agree though that comparing them is obtuse and is probably just to get someone like yourself riled up.

You can't boil down both country's govt, culture and other aspects into opposites cause it's easy though.

Somethings are more complicated than that. For example the US has health care (which I agree with) but China does not and health care would be an example of socialism.
Also about freedoms you have laws about drinking age and such that aren't followed or don't exist in China, which is a kind of freedom that China has over the US.
But that is just a few examples that show you can't just make a generalization about a place and think it's a catch all.

GJJEMHUNTER

7:05 PM ET

January 19, 2012

subtle influence

Russia was amazed at US ability to deceive their population.
Nothing has changed.
Education tells us we must serve a monetary economy or be ostracized.
Media gently rocks us into conformity with laughter and interesting things.
So we compete, strive for position and money, work hard.
We eat out, relax, come home watch TV or a movie, repeat all of our lives.

This is not our lives. We are but cattle, batteries, serving the economic system.
We have nothing, are nothing, mean nothing, and are going nowhere.
We need to create our own vision, go our own direction, and stop listening
to those threatening us into submission.
Are our true leaders still in America? Are they in jail? Are they you and me?

SHEEP_HERDER

4:59 AM ET

January 20, 2012

@XELVIS

I'm gonna print and frame your response, it was spot on with hypocrisy of these sheep, and I love the added humor... Today your my hero!

SHEEP_HERDER

5:29 AM ET

January 20, 2012

ONLY ONLY !! because we borrowed into oblivion?

So the USA is the greatest country on earth because we borrowed our way into a debt crisis for the last 10 to 20 years? Your the one that needs an education... The sheep of this great country are growing every year and use their voting privilege on nice words and empty promises. Corrupt politicians, mass social programs, government waste, and radical environmentalist is how we got into this mess. How dare you quote Patrick Henry, he would never associate with people who hold your views.

OTBROS

1:09 AM ET

January 19, 2012

?????

It would be a beautiful thing if the Chinese people could throw off the yoke of slavery that Communism always brings. Imagine more than ONE BILLION THREE people free!

Had they the right to keep and bear arms, the revolution would have already occurred.

The Communist Chinese government is the worst government in the entire history of mankind! Over ONE HUNDRED MILLION people slaughtered by the regime that is still in charge today! Mao ZeDong is the greatest mass murderer of all time, easily surpassing Stalin (#2) and Hitler (#3).

To the oppressed masses of Communist China, I say GodSpeed!

DCALFINE

2:45 AM ET

January 19, 2012

Godspeed

Amen

DEAN M. JACKSON

1:19 AM ET

January 19, 2012

Next Major Communist Disinformation Campaign: ChiCom Collapse

"A campaign for a new system of World Government will be launched at Summit level and will be accompanied by pressure from below, the active use of agents of influence and secret assassinations of leaders who are seen as obstacles. The campaign will come as a surprise to the US Administration. In the ensuing negotiations, the US President of the day will find himself facing a combined pressure from the Russians and the Chinese. The Chinese will by then have adopted a ‘reformed’, pseudo-democratic system." -- KGB Defector Major Anatoliy Golitsyn, The Perestroika Deception, April 1993, Page 166.

"Since at least the early 1970s, the Communist party of China has been poised to create a spectacular but controlled “democratization” at any appropriate time. The party had by then spent two decades consolidating its power, building a network of informants and agents that permeate every aspect of Chinese life, both in the cities and in the countryside. Government control is now so complete that it will not be seriously disturbed by free speech and democratic elections; power can now be exerted through the all-pervasive but largely invisible infrastructure of control. A transition to an apparently new system, using dialectical tactics, is now starting to occur." --Playing the China Card (The New American, Jan. 1, 1991).

It would seem the Chinese Communist Party is now ready to initiate the next major disinformation campaign within the Communists' 'Long-Range Strategy' (signed onto by all Communist nations in 1960).

KEIR

4:38 AM ET

January 19, 2012

A Kennan for our time?

About time someone in the West stood up for what we believe in and our forefathers sacrificed for. I've lived in China for a decade and am married to a Chinese woman. I know from experience that the fascist regime would rather keep its population utterly stupid about everything and would rather its people died of SARS, bird flu', fake milk, eggs, etc etc etc rather than inconvenience itself. It is ALWAYS lying and punishes those who seek information about state secrets we in the West would take for granted. if my son ever applied for Chinese nationality (God forbid) he would be a subject, allowed to read, say or do only that which the regime permits, whilst those in the West (including the US) are citizens who are expected to be involved in the life of the country. Given that the regime blocks Facebook, youtube, all blogs not controlled by the state and foreign news providers, is it any wonder that all is left to people for simple survival is rumour? And the fact is, Western companies actually facilitate the means by which the fascists are able to do so.
http://tracesofevil.com

JJAUREGUI

7:20 AM ET

January 19, 2012

Unstable Government?

You mean to say more unstable than the US government. That's quite a stretch don't you think?

JL MORGAN

11:54 AM ET

January 19, 2012

The Difference U.S. and China?

Benth, you lost me with the first few sentences of your uninformed rant:

“…The only difference between the United States and China is in name of the regime only…Our country is run by the Banking Cartels, (FED, IMF, ECB, etc....). China's central government owns the banks, so tell me what is the difference…”

You've cited one difference right from the top, though that's not an accurate statement.

Go live in and work China for several years and learn something.

JEFF HARRISON

12:23 PM ET

January 19, 2012

The US has been preparing for war with China for over 50 years.

Does any serious student of China and north Korea doubt that every move made by North Korea is not only approved by China, it has on many occasions directed the antics of North Korea.

As for the middle east, China and Russia are making plans to forcibly exert their influence and hegemony on the entire area.

The Trilateral Commission was formed in order to peaceably divide the earths resources, unfortunately the Chinese and Russians have abandoned this approach for a military solution ... if they do not get all they are seeking.

PSADIE

4:18 PM ET

January 19, 2012

psadie

This is just the beginning for China. Things have been perking for quite a while in the different provinces among the poor who are unhappy with the Communist government and wages. I think you will see a revolution or an Occupy China movement. The Red Chinese cannot control the population, too many too arrest or kill. That is why China is scouring the globe for natural resources so they can quiet the masses but it isn't working. Looks like manufacturing will be coming back to the USA where it is the most stable of governments throughout the world. Now get rid of the leech unions and we are ready to go.

NMWANDER

4:20 PM ET

January 19, 2012

21st Century Trading Blocks.

The problem is not China's stability.....
Our problem is USA's stability.
It is time for USA to step back from Delusions of Grandeur. We cannot run a World Empire.....we cannot AFFORD to run a World Empire.
It is time for USA to do the practical and best things in its own self interests.

1. USA needs to quickly patch up relations inside our own neighborhood. North America. That means strengthening our NAFTA trading block, ensuring supply lines of oil, food, manufactured goods, etc. USA will need to devise a way to rope in Cuba, Haiti, Dominican, Jamaica, into the NAFTA arrangement. EXCLUDE CHina!
2. USA will need to adapt to the growing influence of a Chinese-SE Asian Trading Block.
We lost it. We cannot control Vietnam, We cant cut off Oil supplies to China, We cant even retain control of Taiwan....We may have to sacriice Taiwan in order to wipe out North Korean Nuclear Threat. We MUST however retain a good relationship with Japan and its increasing interest in SIBERIA oil supply routes.
3. USA cannot afford to fight China over Middle Eastern Oil Supplies. The pipelines from Iran to China are under way, we cant stop it. Pakistan offers more oil routes from PErsian Gulf through port of Gwadar and over Himalayas. Instead, USA and Europe must realign with Turkey and Kurdistan and Russia. We are watching Europe strengthen its control over the mediteranean and North Afircan oil fields.

KROGERS58

5:39 PM ET

January 19, 2012

Stability and subjectivity

......"and there is a growing frustration among the people over the operations of government, corruption, lack of transparency, and issues that affect the Chinese people on a daily basis that they feel are being neglected".....

Could there be a better description of our government, than the one provided here about the Chinese government? I couldn't do better than this, and therefore it follows that the US government is at least as unstable as the Chinese government. Frankly, I'd say the US government is more unstable, given their corruption, cronyism, and criminal financial management of our country.

I hope someday, we are able to bring all these politicians to justice. What could be better than seeing politicians, both retired and active, sitting in the dock of a courtroom, trying to explain to a jury, their activities were legal because of some loophole they wrote into the law?

IAMBIC PENTAMASTER

6:54 PM ET

January 19, 2012

Corrupt, but unstable?

Pardon while I interrupt,
Yes, the Chinese are corrupt,
I thought it was wrong,
To gift them Hong Kong,
The Brits seemed rather abrupt.

R. GOODMAN

8:40 PM ET

January 19, 2012

One of you

Great article, although It's evident that one of you posing as four separate people on this blog has a serious neurosis.

KEYBASHER

3:39 PM ET