China’s Year of Pomp and Vigilance
Asia Times takes a look at what’s in store for China in 2009, a year full of anniversaries and historical significance (and potentially rising social unrest):
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities will organize grand ceremonies for some of this year’s decade anniversaries, such as the 30th anniversary of Beijing’s proposal for detente with arch rival Taiwan; the 30th anniversary of the country’s establishment of formal diplomatic relations with the United States; and the 60th birthday of the PRC.
But other more sensitive anniversaries are more likely to unnerve them, such as the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan armed rebellion against Chinese rule, and the 20th anniversary of the crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. Chinese authorities will be making every effort to prevent any commemorative activities for these events.
After the mammoth job of hosting last year’s Summer Olympic Games, the agenda of China’s leadership this year, aside from weathering the global financial crisis, will be dominated by organizing celebrations for the former and preventing dissent related to the latter.
