Peter Arnett Visits The Geezers

PETER ARNETT 7-22-2010

Yesterday our guest at the Geezer's Book Club meeting was the intrepid journalist, Peter Arnett.  Ray Herndon, one of our regular members, has known Peter Arnett for over  40 years. They were friendly competitive reporters during the war in Viet Nam, and the friendship has survived several wars since. Peter began speaking with an overview of his time in  Viet Nam, and then briefly related a few highlights of the first 1st and 2nd war in Iraq.  After taking a deep breath, Peter focused on the intended subject of the day, China and the Chinese people. 

CHINA

Peter is now teaching journalism at a college about 400 miles north of Hong Kong, near the Chinese coast. Peter is 76 years old, in good health, full of energy and enjoys his job as an educator. In that capacity he is able to travel unhindered (not everyone can) throughout China. He has personally observed the daily trials, troubles and opportunities that abound in this huge and complicated country.  

Peter described a rapidly modernizing China. He presented information that gave each of us an  improved perspective.   Peter's knowledge,  his scholarship and observations, were absolutely fascinating.  Granted, we had a bit of a head start.  At his suggestion, and prior to the meeting, we all read  "OUT OF MAO'S SHADOW" by Phillip P. Pan. The author and Peter have similar observations.  It's a terrific book, and helped to lay the foundation for Peter's comments. He used several excerpts from the book in his presentation.  China's population is so mind-blowing-huge it is very difficult to visualize. Every problem in China is multiplied by the numbers. China is racing forward as it's government attempts to improve their entire society, their industrial ability, and their political administration. Fortunately, while pulling themselves up by the boot straps, the government discovered the very real benefits of capitalism and foreign trade. They have used this discovery (?) in recent times to boost the surge of their economy. Growing access to TV and other worldwide communications challenged their government and encouraged it o hurry. They are doing so - and in the process they've made a few mistakes. Like Tianamin Square.  

Regardless, in most respects the China of today is nothing like China just 10 years ago. The pace of change is staggering. The present day Chinese circumstances are vaguely  comparable to the [rural-to-city-to-industy] growth of America about 70 years ago.  Americans think of that time as their [industrial revolution].  Well, right now is the time of China's.

THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY

Today the Chinese Communist Party does not actually practice Communism as we have come to  know it in Russia. Chinese Communism has always been different. Under Mao Tse Tung it was routinely changed to fit what he saw as [the needs of China], but it never was  successful. It failed despite the changes.  After Mao died the succeeding government was free to discard Communism altogether.  In the world today, Chinese Communism would be better understood if it was known as : 

THE CHINESE AUTHORITARIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM. 

Before listening to Peter I was not aware that communism had been so thoroughly erased, nor that  authoritarianism had so completely taken it's place. The original version of communism has been soundly rejected. After Mao died, the government, almost immediately, dismantled the failed communes and collective farms. They introduced a rapidly evolving Authoritarian Controlled Capitalism, and  citizens are again allowed to own land and encouraged to develop businesses. Students are now being sent abroad to learn and bring back knowledge to China. As you read this, China continues it's fast pace forward and, as expected, Chinese problems are of monumental size. The people of China are probably served better by their present form of government than they could be by any other. The Chinese have very unique problems. For example:

1.    1/3 of the population is relatively advanced and rich.
2.    another 1/3 generally considered the middle class,
3.    and about 1/3 are living in absolutely awful poverty.

These figures seem not so unusual . . . until you realize that:

THERE ARE  500,000,000 CHINESE LIVING IN POVERTY.

It is the overwhelming numbers that make China unique. Any Chinese government must walk a narrow tightrope. Because of the shear number of discontented Chinese people living in a condition of terrible poverty - the government is in constant fear of the revolt of it's own population. It fears revolt as much as any external threat. For these reasons, among others, the government firmly believes it must be stern and authoritarian to maintain control.  Yet, despite the problems, the government is metering more and more freedoms (and privileges) to Chinese citizens. This is happening at a time when China is racing toward modernization. 

It should be said that the Chinese government is aware that it is sometimes over-controlling, brutal, and unfair.  They are convinced that it can not be otherwise.  They want to quiet criticism (with censorship) while sternly controlling the elements of change. They want to improve Chinese lives as fast as they possibly can, and they are forced to proceed rapidly - with caution.   

Peter Arnett discussed the [THREE T's] in China today. The government  doesn't  tolerate negative comments on these delicate subjects:

1.    Taiwan. The island of Formosa/Taiwan
      is considered part of China and it always
      will be a part of China. End of discussion.

2.    Tibet. The country was once part of China
       and never was not. It is a critical element
       of China's protection. It is now, and always
       has been, a buffer between India and China.

3.   Tianamen Square. It is history best forgotten
      and not to be discussed or commented upon.
      Period.

   

END