In The Nation, Jeffrey Wasserstrom writes about the series of major events that have gripped China so far this year: the anti-Maglev protests in Shanghai, the crippling snowstorms in February, the unrest in Tibetan areas in March, and the devastating earthquake last week:
And it’s only May. No matter what happens next, 2008 is shaping up to be one of the most eventful and tragic years in recent Chinese history. And the way the Chinese people and the Communist Party leadership have risen to meet these unforeseen events challenges us in the West to rethink our often distorted view of China. Here are five lessons that are emerging.
