Wen in renewed plea for wider political reforms

Premier Wen Jiabao has renewed his campaign for political reform, in an outspoken call for change as the Communist Party's official mouthpiece, People's Daily, issued a surprising plea for China to tolerate dissenting opinion and criticism. Most political observers said Wen's remarks indicated frustration with the pace of reform rather than any fracture within the party. Speaking to Chinese embassy staff and representatives of the Chinese community in Kuala Lumpur, Wen said China needed to carry out political, economic and judicial reforms to balance its growth. He also said China needed to encourage 'independent thinking' among its 1.3 billion people. '[China] must advance political, economic and judicial reforms, so that our superstructure [politics] will keep abreast with the development of our economic foundation,' Wen said in his speech in the Malaysian capital. He also stressed the importance of 'independent thinking' - at a time when critical thinkers in China were being hard-pressed to toe the official line. 'The most important thing for future development is to promote independent thinking and creativity. Our country will be invincible if all of our 1.3 billion people can think independently and be creative,' he said. Although it has become habitual for Wen to call for political reform, the latest message came at a sensitive time as Beijing intensified its crackdown on dissidents, rounding up activists including the artist Ai Weiwei . Adding to the intrigue, People's Daily published an unusual commentary, calling for greater tolerance for different ideas and a willingness to accept criticism. The article began with a quote often attributed to the liberal French philosopher Voltaire: 'I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.' The article pointedly criticised the widespread official intolerance of dissenting views and condemned those using their powers to suppress such expression. 'In their treatment of criticisms and suggestions, some [officials] have not only not listened to them with an open mind, but have also resorted to the charge of libel and even used their power to suppress such dissenting voices,' People's Daily said. Wen's remarks in Kuala Lumpur also departed from his earlier statements that usually put economic reform before political reform. These latest developments raised questions whether there were hidden fractures within the top leadership. But most political analysts said it was more likely a show of frustration by the premier and the party's liberals. 'Wen appeared so frustrated because even as the premier, he couldn't do much [to initiate political reforms], and even though he has been making repeated calls inside and outside the country,' said Professor Joseph Cheng Yu-shek, a political scientist at City University of Hong Kong. Cheng added that Wen might want to send such messages while he was still able to do so. With a major leadership reshuffle due next year, Wen understood that he would no longer be able to speak freely to the public once he had retired. Cheng said Wen's call was more like a lone voice in the wilderness than any real push for reform, an analysis supported by the fact that Wen's speech in Malaysia was not reported by any mainland media. 'I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt ... but the reality is in sharp contrast [to what he's preaching]. It also goes against what other top leaders, such as National People's Congress chairman Wu Bangguo, are telling the public,' Chen said. Last month, Wu - the party's No 2 - told national lawmakers that China must guard against the dire consequences of promoting Western-style political pluralism and division of power. Four days later, at his annual press conference, Wen stressed the need for political reform. Wen's repeated calls raised hopes that the Communist Party would announce reforms on the political front during its plenum in October but observers were let down when a communique released at the close made only one passing reference to political reform. It said only the party would make 'active but steady' efforts to promote 'political restructuring', without any elaboration. Wen also said in Kuala Lumpur that China should no longer limp on one leg - referring to its economic reforms. Wen has been sending out similar messages on various occasions recently - many apparently contradicting the views of other top party leaders, such as Wu. On Saturday, Wen raised eyebrows after he invited veteran Hong Kong columnist and former national lawmaker Ng Hong-mun for a 90-minute talk at his office in Zhongnanhai. Ng said Wen had warned against the lingering influence of 'cultural revolution' and 'feudalism' that had deterred people from speaking the truth. Cheng said Wen was referring to the conservative power and entrenched interests group, including the so-called princelings, or children of senior party members. Another political commentator, Johnny Lau Yui-sui, said Wen's political opinions were aimed at balancing the central government's current conservative policies. 'Wen's view should not be seen as a power fracture within the nine-member Politburo's standing committee. So far, we haven't seen other top leaders supporting him,' said Lau. He said Wen's speeches probably would not bring any change to the political landscape. 'But at least it does show that [among] top leaders, some different voices are allowed.'