Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao chatting with Chinese "netizens". Credit: Xinhua.
In a massive PR effort, the Chinese government held an online chat session for the public. China is home to the largest population of Internet users on earth. Premier Wen Jiabao was the representative of the government, and appeared to many analysts as if he were running for election. Indeed perhaps he was taking some cues from the US President Obama’s successful campaign and his currently high popularity based in part on his transparency programs. The Washington Post reports:
The most revealing part of his talk, however, may be what Wen said about government transparency and accountability. “I have always believed that the public has the right to know what its government is doing and thinking about, and the right to criticize and make comments on government policies,” he wrote.
This is quite a far cry from China of recent history. Given a massive unemployment rate, various rebellions in the west, a rapidly slowing economy, damaging product quality scandals, and growing international scrutiny, it is in Beijing’s best interests to appear as progressive as it can. Is China going to be a democracy any time soon? No. But it will indeed try to appear more open in certain areas. The Washington Post continues:
Even as they continue harsh crackdowns against critics, China’s leaders are expanding opportunities for discussion and debate as a way of allowing the country’s citizenry to vent without taking to the streets. Academics disagree over whether these are the first tentative steps toward a new openness or whether they are just techniques for suppressing dissent.
As for Wen’s chat session, it appears to have been a success. The Chinese leader appeared humble, humorous, and concerned with his citizens’ worries. Although avoiding most topics dealing directly with Beijing’s policies, Wen did discuss transparency and economic conditions. As China seeks to find success in its own economic stimulus plan, and as the National People’s Congress currently meets in Beijing, this chat session couldn’t have come at a better time.
What will be interesting is to see which other rising powers might follow this model… It’s difficult to imagine Russia’s Medvedev or Putin getting online and chatting with Russian citizens, isn’t it?
