Okay, lets try out this button that lets me add articles directly to the blog (in an effort to start regularly updating it). This piece about the future leader of China, while short of details, is pretty interesting. On the one hand, it seems great that Xi is practical and down-to-earth as that will be the best for China. Having a leader that is seemingly immune to corruptive influence, particularly in China, will work wonders if his influence can spread throughout the country.
"Li Shi Wei, the Taiwanese businessman, said he remembers in Fujian province that Xi did not want even the appearance of impropriety. Li recalled that a group of businessmen once offered to stop by Xi’s home for a social call and that Xi responded by saying that “business is done in the office.”
On the other hand, the thousands of riots that occur in China every year are typically due to local corruption (as well as working conditions/lack of jobs). If the US is hoping that the Party will be toppled by a groundswell of local opposition [which a) probably won't happen and b) would arguably end up being worse than the devil we know] and a new leader comes in who is known for his distinct lack of corruption - that should work to take some of the powder out of the keg, so to speak.
Also of note -
"Li Fan, founder of the World and China Institute in Beijing, which studies elections, said the period in Zhejiang from 2002 until 2007 saw the rapid growth of nongovernmental groups, including industry associations and unions, which bargained over wages and kept labor disputes to a minimum."
