Can the Sage Save China? – Benjamin Robertson and Melinda Liu

From Newsweek (link):

060311 Overseasconfucius Hsmall.WidecChina’s official buzzword these days is “harmony.” Whether the audience is Chinese or foreign, rich or poor, Beijing’s leaders are spreading the message: can’t we all just get along? After becoming president in 2003, Hu Jintao made the pursuit of a “harmonious society” his personal mantra. Last week Prime Minister Wen Jiabao echoed the same sentiment before the current session of China’s Parliament; the gathering has focused on improving health care and education for the rural poor, who have increasingly been left behind by China’s economic boom. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has got into the act, too, trying to market the message abroad. “The Chinese nation has always pursued a life in harmony with other nations, despite differences,” he said recently. What few of China’s top leaders acknowledge out loud, however, is that Hu’s slogan actually harks back to a famous”and ancient”Chinese personality: Confucius.

CDT EBOOKS

Subscribe to CDT

SUPPORT CDT

Browsers Unbounded by Lantern

Now, you can combat internet censorship in a new way: by toggling the switch below while browsing China Digital Times, you can provide a secure "bridge" for people who want to freely access information. This open-source project is powered by Lantern, know more about this project.

Google Ads 1

Giving Assistant

Google Ads 2

Anti-censorship Tools

Life Without Walls

Click on the image to download Firefly for circumvention

Open popup
X

Welcome back!

CDT is a non-profit media site, and we need your support. Your contribution will help us provide more translations, breaking news, and other content you love.