From Reuters:
A veteran Chinese Communist’s call for democracy has stirred a secretive campaign of condemnation from the party, wary of fanning disputes over political reform before a congress to cement President Hu Jintao’s grip on power.
Xie Tao, 85, made his plea for “democratic socialism” in the magazine China Across the Ages (Yanhuang Chunqiu), a monthly backed by reformist party elders.
“Political system reform can no longer be delayed,” Xie wrote in his essay published in February. “Only constitutional democracy can fundamentally solve the ruling party’s problems of corruption and graft, only democratic socialism can save China!”[Full Text]
