US political model under fire in China

Updated: 2011-11-17 14:02

(chinadaily.com.cn)

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With the US facing serious economic downturn and monumental debt problems, Chinese people are increasingly triumphant over their rapid economic growth, saying their success proves its political and economic system is superior to the Western model, according to an article on the website of The Washington Times on Nov 11.

In China, many people take the serious difficulties facing the US and unfolding crisis in Europe as evidence, criticizing that Western democracy does not work or provide lasting well-being for the people, said the article.

Ronnie Chan, a wealthy Hong Kong developer who obtained US citizenship through naturalization and votes in US elections, is dismissive of US leaders and what he sees as partisan bickering and a tendency to pander to the public.

According to Chan, US political leaders who are focused on short-term gains fail to make the painful long-term choices and changes in social programs needed to ensure the solvency of the government and vitality of the economy.

Chinese leaders, by contrast, lay out plans for the long term and systematically achieve them, producing unprecedented gains in living standards and a remarkable two decades of uninterrupted growth at nearly double-digit annual rates, which proves that the Chinese system is better than the democratic system that the US promotes around the world, Chan said.

The article also quoted Liu Qing, an analyst at the China Institute of International Studies, as saying "We believe our political system corresponds to China's needs. It allows us to have economic development, improve living standards and remain harmonious. Ninety-nine percent of Chinese are satisfied with the current situation".