Chinese democracy ‘in-action’: Sleeping delegates at the Two Sessions

The ongoing Two Sessions in Beijing — the National People’s Congress (ie., the legislature) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (the top politcal advisory body) — is the best time each year to observe Chinese democracy in action. You’ll see happy minorities in all their ethnic finery, delegates decked out head to toe with the latest luxury items this season, and beautiful female journalists — what more could anyone ask for?
As a delegate to any of the two meetings, you won’t have to do much. While all the big guys make their speeches and do their thing, you’ll get to fiddle around with your mobile phone (like uber-butch singer Han Hong did), even catch a few z’s if you like! All you’ll need to do is to make sure you wake up at the appointed time to cast the aye vote.
Leading the symphony of snores reverberating across the Great Hall of the People this year was General Mao Xinyu, the famed grandson of Chairman Mao, who clearly was exhausted from running away from pesky journalists on his way to the conference.
With so many people’s representatives able to get such truly restful slumber through what is touted to be the most important event of the political calendar, you too can rest assured that this country is in safe hands.