Not that I Trust Xinhua . . .

Not that I Trust Xinhua . . .

I am very skeptical about what I read in the PRC's state-run Xinhua but still . . . I sometimes read it because I am fascinated by what they want the outside world to believe. Today, Xinhua is reporting that:

"A more open and pragmatic image is what this year's annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have impressed most the media and people at home and abroad."

Pragmatic perhaps, but open? I'll believe that when the Tienanmen Square Protesters are all released and people are not arrested for exercising in public – oh and the PRC's Citizens can read what they want on the Internet.

The article continues:

“In the meantime, the general public have been actively involved in the sessions by making suggestions via various media organizations, especially websites. The distance between inside and outside the session venue is so short, and the atmosphere of participating in discussing state affairs is so strong that the concept of seeking common development and jointly building a harmonious society has been turned into concrete actions, thanks to the concerted efforts of all social sectors.”

And how many of those suggestions are taken seriously? Are citizens allowed to make truly anonymous suggestions so they do not fear jackbooted thugs in the middle of the night? I recall one time when Saddam Hussein asked for suggestions some of them were not taken well.

The article concludes:

“Jointly discussing state affairs in a democratic way will make China strong. The democratic and pragmatic annual sessions will certainly provide a stronger democratic and political guarantee for the building of a relatively prosperous society and enable China to perfect its socialist political civilization with Chinese characteristics.”

A “socialist political civilization.” Interesting way of putting it. That the “civilization” is intricately tied to socialism. This thinking is not unique to China but in China they can be more blatant.