China at the beginning

This is a test, as it is the first post
Considering this is information that can be obtained in most internet encyclopaedias, We attempted to keep it as short as possible. If you read this and know about the political situation in China, do skip to other posts, otherwise, this is useful information which you might want to keep in mind when considering the Olympics and the PRC (People's Republic of China)

Political Situation in China, since Hu Jintao came to power (2002 onwards)

Hu Jintao took over the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party in 2002 and became President of China in 2003. He became Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2004. Hu’s rise to the presidency represents China’s transition of leadership from old, established communists to younger, more pragmatic technocrats.

“President Hu Jintao's overarching vision, his political philosophy is summarized by three slogans — a “Harmonious Society” domestically and a “Peaceful Development” internationally, the former generated by a “Scientific Development Perspective,” which seeks integrated sets of solutions to arrays of economic, environmental and social problems, and recognizes, in inner circles, a need for political reform (though studied, cautious and controlled).”

“What emerges in the view of President Hu is the "China Model," a systematic approach to national structure and development that combines dynamic economic growth, a free market energized by a vigorous “nonpublic” (i.e., private) sector, unrelenting political and media control, personal but not political freedoms, concern for the welfare of all citizens, cultural enlightenment, and a synergistic approach to diverse social issues (the Scientific Development Perspective) that lead, in Hu’s vision, to a Harmonious Society.”

Hu Jintao is currently seen as a hard-liner in regard to liberalising the Chinese Media, as well as political reform. Hu listed “20 forbidden areas” of coverage for news reporting on Chinese TV stations. Continuing with censorship of the Internet, censoring politically sensitive material to a degree more strict than the Jiang leadership period.

“Hu Jintao has showed signs of being more flexible with the situation over Taiwan, more flexible with China’s political relationship with Taiwan and the mention of “international living space for Taiwan”. However, Hu Jintao is still committed to Chinese reunification as an ultimate goal. China is unwilling to accept any attempt by the Taiwanese to declare independence, which is shown by the Anti-Secession Law passed in 2005.
As of 2005, 70% of China’s GDP is in the private sector. The relatively small public sector is dominated by about 200 large state enterprises concentrating mostly in ulities, heavy industries, and energy resources.”

“Although Chinese economic reform has been characterized by many in the West as a return to capitalism, Chinese officials have insisted that it is a form of socialism, because to do otherwise would call into the question the validity of Marxism and the legitimacy of the regime. However, they have not argued against the premise that many of the reforms involve adopting economic policies that are in use in capitalist nations, and one of the premises of Chinese economic reform is that China should not avoid adopting “whatever works” for ideological reasons.”

Hu and his premier Wen Jiabao have attempted to move China away from a policy of favouring economic growth at all costs and toward a more balanced view of growth that includes factors in social inequality and environmental change, including the use of the green gross domestic product.

By our own Ian Mitchell