Open Revolt Against the Communist Party in China

Very interesting news out of China.  Given how well the Chinese are adapting to capitalism, I almost wish they were still taking the hard communist line.  Which, of course, they are not.  China has some real choices ahead of them.  To date, they've been thriving economically, across the globe, because they haven't intertwined their business dealings with any moral or geo-political agenda.  That is going to change as they grow more powerful.  They are going to get sucked into regional disputes and be forced to take a side.  Personally, I don't think they will handle those dilemmas very effectively.

For the first time on record, the Chinese Communist party has lost all control, with the population of 20,000 in this southern fishing village now in open revolt.

The last of Wukan’s dozen party officials fled on Monday after thousands of people blocked armed police from retaking the village, standing firm against tear gas and water cannons.

Since then, the police have retreated to a roadblock, some three miles away, in order to prevent food and water from entering, and villagers from leaving. Wukan’s fishing fleet, its main source of income, has also been stopped from leaving harbour.

The plan appears to be to lay siege to Wukan and choke a rebellion which began three months ago when an angry mob, incensed at having the village’s land sold off, rampaged through the streets and overturned cars.

Although China suffers an estimated 180,000 “mass incidents” a year, it is unheard of for the Party to sound a retreat.

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