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Rick Tang

When President Xi Jinping came into office in November 2012, he declared that he would strike the "tigers" and the "flies" in a crackdown on corruption. Since then, over 37 "tigers" and many "flies" have been caught, the latest being former security chief Zhou Yongkang.
Xi is winning the war on corruption, but he must also lead the nation to embrace the rule of law.
The double-digit growth during the last administration raised the quality of life of the people significantly. But it is impractical for Xi's administration to match such sizzling growth in the future.
China cannot continue to rely primarily on exports and building "ghost towns" and "highways to nowhere". Xi and Premier Li Keqiang have to restructure the Chinese economic model.
Indeed, the two are trying hard to unleash the huge potential of the domestic economy by galvanising competition from the private sector. Such competition will make the economy more efficient and create more jobs and upward mobility for the people.
The vested interests in the state-owned enterprises, hidden in a web of corruption, must be crushed so that such reforms are not blocked.
Equally important, China must move up the value chain by innovation. To this end, China must create an environment to attract domestic and foreign talents and reward inventions and innovations. Such an environment is only sustainable by applying the rule of law to protect inventions and trade secrets.
China needs clear laws to define the power of the government. Laws and regulations must be clear, transparent and easily accessible to all. Human rights, including freedom of speech, must be protected. So too must property rights. People must have proper and affordable channels to express their grievances, and be treated equally before the law.
Just as important, there must be an independent judiciary and the judicial process clean and efficient.
They are the lexicon of the rule of law. The components are like building blocks that must be installed as the foundation of nation building, without which it will collapse sooner or later.
Many people confuse the rule of law with democracy, but democracy is not a precursor to the rule of law.
Hong Kong is not a democracy but guards the rule of law fearlessly as a fundamental value.
On the other hand, a democratic country that does not have a sound foundation of the rule of law is a recipe for disaster.
Examples abound.
India is the biggest democracy in the world. Unfortunately its people are impoverished and the crime rate is high. Some foreign statesmen say that the country is "difficult to govern".
Indonesia is the third biggest democracy in the world but it is always a stone's throw away from international financial and technical aid, with vast natural resources trapped under crumbling infrastructure.
The Philippines follows the US democratic structure but governance is almost theatrical with a few ex-convicts in conspicuous positions in the government.
Thailand has more colourful changes of its democratic government than any other country in the world. The "red shirts" and "yellow shirts" protested loudly in the capital and caused gridlock in the city. Their democratically elected government was thrown out not too long ago by the opposition party who appointed themselves to be guardians of the country, only to be displaced by the military.
The ordinary folk in China do not demand democracy. They are pragmatic. They have a realisable China dream:


		Socially, they want to live in decent housing conditions, breathe clean air, feel safe at night, eat safe and hygienic food, have equal access to a health care system and receive a good education;



		Economically, they want to be gainfully employed or be able to set up their own businesses as entrepreneurs, and for investors to continue to put their money in the country;



		Logistically, they want to travel freely inside and outside the country, and within and across cities and towns by a well-managed transport network;



		Legally, they want government officials who abide by the law and abuses checked by a professional and efficient judiciary; and



		Defensively, they want the nation to be protected by a modernised military.

China has always been ruled, but has never embraced the rule of law in its thousands of years of history. Xi must now turn a new page of Chinese history.
The China dream can be realised by the end of his administration when corruption is cleansed from the system and the governance of China is founded on the rule of law.
I believe Xi Jinping will go down in modern Chinese history as a legendary reformer and leader.
Rick Yetsan Tang is the founder and convener of the China Rule of Law Forum


Embracing the rule of law wouldhelp realise the Chinese Dream

China cannot continue to rely primarily on exports and building 'ghost towns' and 'highways to nowhere'. Photo: AFP

Opinion

Comment

Rick Tang says Chinese people do not demand democracy but will support corruption fight


When President Xi Jinping came into office in November 2012, he declared that he would strike the "tigers" and the "flies" in a crackdown on corruption. Since then, over 37 "tigers" and many "flies" have been caught, the latest being former security chief Zhou Yongkang.


Embracing the rule of law wouldhelp realise the Chinese Dream

Rick Tang says Chinese people do not demand democracy but will support corruption fight

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