From AP, via The Washington Post: They’re smart, energetic, urbane – and powerless.
China’s communists permit no real opposition but allow the existence of eight other parties that serve as advisers, nominal critics and cheerleaders. None challenges the communists’ policies or their monopoly on power, and members say that suits them just fine.
“The Communist Party is the leading force and we are just here to help,” said Bao Yizhi, a leading member of one of the parties – the China Democratic League – and a former deputy mayor in western China.
Here are some introductions of those “Democratic Parties” on official Chinese websites and publications.
