The events that have taken place in China over the past two weeks have many far reaching implications. In case you were not aware, tens of thousands of Chinese citizens violently protested against Japanese citizens and interests in China. The reasons for these demonstrations are numerous but they will not be explained here because they are not the focus of this blog. Nor will the economic implications be explained if Japan embargos China, its biggest trading partner. The focus of this blog is on two possible implications of the Chinese citizens’ actions.
One possible result of these protests is that foreign investors could become more cautious of investing money in China. It is widely known that the ever-expanding direct foreign investment in China is the main cause for the continued economic explosion taking place there. If foreign investment slows, it could be possible that China once again becomes a “sleeping giant.”
A second possible implication of these protests is that glasnost is catching up with perestroika. Despite the rapid economic reforms that have taken place in China, political reforms have purposely lagged behind. Demonstrations are still illegal in China, and the fact that these protests took place could be evidence that the people are once again calling for democracy.
Could China ever again be the “sleeping giant,” or is she forever awake to “shake the world?”
Though calls for democracy in China have failed in the past, is now the time for reform?
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/04/17/china.japan/index.html
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