THE leadership is appealing to nationalism and raising the bogey of ''foreign intervention'' to arrest the localisation of power.
Chinese sources said by granting the localities an unprecedented level of autonomy, Premier Mr Li Peng and other leaders risked losing more authority over the regions.
In his Government Work Report to the National People's Congress, Mr Li invoked the values of nationalism and patriotism as the economy was about to take off to enable China to enter the front ranks of the nations.
However, the premier highlighted the theory of international conspiracy, or hostile nations trying to ''block'' China's progress to world power status through subversive activities in Taiwan and Hongkong.
The official China News Service (CNS) yesterday quoted deputies of the NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as saying the report had ''consolidated the self-confidence of the Chinese.'' ''No matter who [in foreign countries] is fabricating problems [for China], they cannot block China's path to wealth and strength'', they said.
CPPCC members Mr He Jianzhang, Mr Jing Junjian, and Mr Dai Yuanchen were quoted as saying that the picture of a strong China sketched by Mr Li had made ''every Chinese proud''.
CPPCC deputy and social scientist Mr Qu Xicai pointed out, however, that ''imperialists'' and other hostile elements were bent on erecting obstacles on China's path to greatness.