Out With the Old....

"We must uphold the leadership of the party.  We must strive for common prosperity.  We must continue to release and develop the productive forces.
"Developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is a long-term arduous task of historic importance and we must be prepared to carry out a great struggle with many new historical features."
Hu Jintao - Firmly March on the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive to Complete the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society in all Respects speech, 18th Communist Party Congress

The 18th national congress of the Communist party of China opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photograph: Li Xueren/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Quite the elaborate piece of theatre.  The Great Hall of the People, an imposing mausoleum where the drama of China's Communist-led government is prepared to re-engage in its ritual of navel-gazing, giving themselves a gold seal of approval for the manner in which they have managed to administer that huge country with its ungovernably heaving mass of people, giving full meaning to pluralities.

The function of the Chinese Communist Party and its ruling elite is to ensure that the nation is controlled to the extent that a minimum of dissent occurs.  And that in and of itself is a huge task given the number of ethnic and religious groups, cultures and languages involved.  To which one must add the vast numbers living in rural farming areas.  And the number of mega-cities, teeming metropolises.

The ticking time bomb of the country's constant push to increase its manufacturing and trade sector, ensuring as many employment opportunities as possible for the constantly emerging young adults looking for stability.  And the rush to market with low wages and inferior production materials and methods resulting in the contamination of goods impacting on peoples' health.

The ever-growing need for new energy sources and the ongoing dependence on coal-fired furnaces that belch their carbon stench everywhere, blocking out the sun in those huge mega-cities; the dumping of chemical effluent in rivers and waterways, contaminating potable water sources, all geared to diminishing the quality of life, when enhancing the quality of life for as many citizens as possible is the goal.

Added to these headaches, problems with earthquakes, with the largest dam in the world for hydro-electricity showing fault lines and a crumbling of its infrastructure, creating such weight on the earth's crust that it contributes to earthquake activity.  Which in itself meets other problems, like sub-standard construction methods that the earth's movements heave and destroy infrastructure and lives.

Ah, and endemic corruption.  From village officials up to all the various levels of officialdom, and finally the Politboro.  Where mere rumours of elite politicians feathering their cozy nests occasionally are verified as realities, causing no end of embarrassment and a lot of brazen denials. 

"A small number of party members and officials waver in the party's ideal and convictions and are not fully aware of its purpose.  Some sectors are prone to corruption and misconduct and the fight against corruption remains a serious challenge for us", charged Hu Jintao, outgoing president.

The Chinese Premier Web Jiabao, whom the New York Times revealed that $2.7-billion has been amassed by his near relatives during his time in power, sat placidly behind Mr. Hu, and beside him sat the incoming president, Xi Jinping, whose own family is said to have acquired $375-million in wealth of their own.

"[L]eading officials at all levels, especially high-ranking officials, must readily observe the code of conduct on clean governance and report all important facts", and as well they have an obligation to supervise "their family and staff."

Reading the toothless Riot Act.