Change, but no change

The Communist Party of China at its 16th National Congress accepted the report of outgoing general secretary, Jiang Zemin, and elected Hu Ji...

The Communist Party of China at its 16th National Congress accepted the report of outgoing general secretary, Jiang Zemin, and elected Hu Jintao as the man to replace him. The changes would lower the average age of the 356-member Central Committee to a shade above 55 years. This is remarkable change in a civilisation that respects age. Hu Jintao himself is 59 compared to Jiang8217;s 76 years. But the significant aspect is that this is not a simple shift to a new generation. Jiang, like Deng Xiaopeng earlier, would stay at the head of the Central Military Commission so as to reassure the military as well as the people and party that continuity would be maintained in matters military. The focus of policy would remain on ensuring that the army remains loyal to the Communist Party. At the same time change would continue in military modernisation.

The real change would be found in the amendments to the Party constitution where the 8216;Three Represents8217; now occupy the pinnacle of ideological rationalisation. Compared to the historical position that the Party represents only the working class, it now has moved to welcome people from beyond that definition due to the need to 8216;advance with the times8217;. In the tradition of past leaders, Jiang Zemin has bestowed a new mantra. His 8216;Three Represents8217; would now lead the Party to welcome not only workers, farmers, soldiers and intellectuals but also 8216;any advanced element of other social strata8217;, including private businessmen, professionals and others who earn 8216;legitimate8217; money. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this only marks a progression in terms of socio-economic modernisation that is palpably visible in China. By co-opting the capitalists of the country into the political system, the Party has only acknowledged the effects of economic growth and the need to continue building a 8216;well-off society8217;.

What continues unchanged is the importance of social stability over progress. The country8217;s average economic growth rate of 9.3 percent over the past 13 years would inevitably lead to the rise of inequities and internal tensions. But the continuation of such progress, if 8216;heightened political instability8217; were to be avoided, would necessitate greater emphasis on law, discipline and order. Continuity may also be expected in China8217;s foreign and security policy in the near term. For India, it is this that should be of most interest.