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aspect which has caught the eyes of the world's press, there have been posters of a much more root and branch kind, appearing and sometimes surviving on "democracy wall" - the favourite poster area calling for liberty, democracy, the rule of law and human rights. The crowds round them have shown some of the habits of democracy, holding genuine rallies as opposed to the Government- sponsored variety, applauding and urgently questioning Westerners and arguing with the police about their rights to express their views
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These developments raise a number of questions, the key one whether the Chinese pot is in danger of boiling over again. In this despatch I shall try to put recent events into perspective and answer some of the questions. As any comment on the workings of this still very closed society, it must be tentative, particularly so since we believe that central leaders have recently been meeting to set a line on several of the issues discussed below.
Background -
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The
It is necessary to go back some way, since what we are seeing is in part another attempt by China to answer the question which has bedevilled her since the early 19th century, namely how to come to terms with a more advanced outside world and how to recover for China a place and a power appropriate to her size and traditions. The old China the Middle Kingdom was in the Chinese view a world in itself, superior, aloof and complete. barbarians outside pursued their barbarous activities but China had no need of their thoughts or their wares. The Chien Lung Emperor's response to George III in 1793 ("As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange and ingenious, and have no use for your manufactures".) is one well known example. But, as the 19th century wore on, this bland self-sufficiency showed increasing signs of wear. The repeated
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/humiliations