Yawn: China issues first white paper on democracy

The Chinese government released a white paper (full English text) today entitled "Building of Political Democracy in China". If you're a graduate student, political science professor, or don't mind wasting the precious time God has given you on to live on this earth, give it a read. It may not be as effective as a sleeping pill, but at least it's cheaper. And if you get done with that and don't feel as if you've wasted enough of your time, re-read the whole damn thing in Chinese.

We like what the Financial Times had to say about this bullshit white paper:

China's government on Wednesday issued a lengthy justification of its commitment to autocratic rule by the Communist party entitled “The Building of Political Democracy”.

Here's one of the highlights of the white paper. This is from the English version on Xinhua (first link, above).

II. The CPC Led the People to Become Masters of the State

The CPC's leading status was established gradually in the protracted struggle and practice of the Chinese people in pursuing national independence, prosperity and a happy life. It was a choice made by history and by the people. The Chinese revolution, construction and reform have demonstrated to the world that it was the CPC that led the Chinese people to find the correct road to win national independence and liberation. It was the CPC that led the Chinese people to find the correct road to build China into a prosperous, democratic and civilized modern country. It is precisely because of this historical reason that the CPC's leading status is clearly described in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

Today, the CPC's leadership and rule in China is an objective requirement of the country's development and progress.

"Objective requirement." We think that phrase is pretty nifty because we've really never heard of anything else being described as an "objective requirement" before, and because "autocratic rule" is just so mean and unpleasant sounding.

Related:
Report Calls Communist Party Rule Essential to Democracy in China (New York Times)