Asia-Pacific Report 1989. Focus: China in the Reform Era

Abstract

The Asia-Pacific state system is in the process of being developed and consolidated. As far as China in this region there are expectations that reforms will continue with intermittent periods of advances and retreats. It is most likely that a mixture of traditional elements of socialist characteristics and special Chinese innovations will prevail. The political reforms in this post Mao era have disengaged the communist party and state bureaucracy from detailed management of the economy and allowed moderation of the legal system. It is unlikely any major step from authoritarianism to democracy would take place in the near future. Economic reforms are much more promising with the creation of regulated markets and private and collective ownership. Political reform will consist of a somewhat more free press some active interest groups more elections to higher levels of the peoples congress a more active legislative process advances in the legal system democracy in the party and a more rational administrative system. Reproduction is the one aspect of life that has become more restrictive and the government has purchased family planning with other freedoms. The economic program failure could be the undoing of the fertility control programs on which so much else depends. China will depend on external supplies of resources but can improve its resource position by more production delivery and efficient use of mineral and energy resources.