From the Christian Science Monitor: In an effort to address recent unrest fed by disparate rural, ethnic, and economic tensions, China’s leadership has embarked on a “harmonious society” campaign that emphasizes awareness of the country’s rich-poor gap, and even tacitly suggests the nation is at a social “crossroads.”
At least eight major incidents of violence and rioting have erupted in recent weeks, against a backdrop of thousands of minor incidents in recent years.
The spread of information via text messages, cellphones, and the Internet is playing a new role. Premier Wen reportedly became aware of “tio lou xiu” – unpaid construction workers who jump off high-rise buildings – via an Internet clipping service. The report figured in an official push to demand billions in withheld “back pay.”
Last spring, Internet protest over a BMW owner who ran over an onion farmer but paid only a small fine was so intense that authorities shut down chat rooms and message boards on the biggest Chinese servers.
