THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Overview
In 1949, communist revolutionaries seized power in China, the world's most populated nation. Led by Mao Zedong , communist forces defeated the Nationalists who fled to the safety of Taiwan, where they remain today. Following the Soviet Union, the Chinese leaders proceeded to establish a totalitarian government strictly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in much the same way that the Soviet Communist party once controlled the Soviet Union.

China's Political Background
China divided into factions following its establishment as a republic in 1912. Some measure of political unity was not established until 1929. The Nationalist party, under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, defeated its rivals and gained at least partial control of the nation. Although rival regimes still existed, particularly in the north where the Communists had taken refuge. Unity was not achieved until Japan invaded China in the 1930's. This invasion brought the rival factions together to defend their country.
After Japans defeat in World War II, a civil war broke out in China between the Nationalists and the Communists. After intense fighting Communists drove the Nationalists out of mainland China and established their dictatorship, the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Nationalists, then firmly in power in Taiwan and supported by the United States, continued their claim to be the only legitimate Chinese government. In 1971, however, the United Nations dismissed this claim, and the General Assembly agreed that the members of the delegation form the PRC were "the only legitimate representatives of China." The United States agreed with the position after President Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China in 1972. However, seven years passed before the United States formally recognized the PRC in January 1979.

The Chinese Communist Party
The Communist Party in China controls the policies and the operation of the government. Despite recent upheavals in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, in the PRC the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its leaders remain firmly in control.

The Party's Role in China
Although the CCP is not an official party of the government, it determines governmental policies and ensures that the government carries out the party's policies and decisions. At every level, officials referred to as cadre, hold key posts. Most of these are party members, however only about 4 percent of the Chinese population actually belong to the Communist party.
At one time the CCP attempted to follow the Soviet Union's pattern of party and government organization, but abandoned this policy in party in 1958. After this the CCP and the government moved to create a truly Chinese political system while retaining a devotion to communism under the slogan "socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Party Organization
in 1982 China adopted 2 new constitutions; the first for the party and the second for the national government. Hypothetically, under its new constitutions, the Communist party's highest governing body is the National Party Congress, composed of between 1,500 and 2,000 delegates. Members of party organizations across the nation select these delegates. In practice, however, the National Party Congress merely serves as a rubber stamp for policies of the party's leaders.
The National Party Congress does, however, elect the party's Central Committee that serves in place of the Congress when it's not in session. The number of members of the Central Committee is between 200 and300 full and alternate members. Its major responsibility is to elect the members of the party's Political Bereau-- the Politiburo. The Politburo usually is composed of about 20 top party leaders.
The Politiburo's Standing Committee, which functions when the full Politiburo is not meeting, is even more elitist and is composed of the top six CCP leaders. The Politiburo's Standing Committee appoints members of the Secretariat, who then implement party policies by supervising the daily activities of the party. The CCP has also has various organizations that carry out special functions under the direction of the Secretariat.
At the top of the CCP, and presumably the most powerful party leader, is the General Secretary who may or may not be a prominent government official as well. Many members of the Politiburo hold top government posts. Politiburo member Li Peng also serves as China's premier. From the late 1970's to the 1990's the unquestioned leader of China was Den Xioping, who held no official government or party position. Leadership in China often may rest upon background rather than upon position.
China's preeminent leaader, Den Xiophing, embraced communism while studying France during the early 1920's and later served in the battles against the Nationalists in the 1930's. Among the less than 12 other older but still important revolutionary veterans, Deng Xioping, in his late 80's. seemed reluctant to pass on his power to younger leaders.

China's National Government
Over the years the People's Republic of China has had several state constitutions. The one that the PRC operates under today was adopted in 1982. The new constitution is designed to enable China to realize the Four Modernizations, a program that calls for modernization in the fields of agriculture, industry, science and technology, and national defense. The final goal is to achieve a stable and relatively advanced industrialized nation by the end of the century.
The 1982 constitution calls the Chinese Communist party the "core of the leadership of the whole Chinese people," while it describes the nation as "led by the Communist Party." It adds, "The Chinese people will continue to uphold the people's democratic dictatorship and socialist road." In reality the government operates under the direction and leadership of the CCP.

The National People's Congress (NPC)
The NCP was established by the constitution and is identified as "the highest organ of state power." The NCP has little real power, however, often functions as little more than the legislative branch of government. It sends official policies down to the lower branches of government at the province, county, or municipal levels, which are expected to implement the policies.
Supposedly, the nation's legislative power rests with the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee that serves when the NPC is not in session. The NCP and its Standing Committee have little independent legislative power. Many of the leaders of the Standing committee do hold important leadership posts in the Communist party that actually decides on the government's actions and policies. In reality, the NCP serves as a symbol if citizen participation in the nation's government when it selects the country's ceremonial president and vice president and the premier who presides over the State Council.

The State Council
In China the State Council carries out the same functions as that a cabinet or council of ministers carries out in other nations. Although the Sate Council is supposedly responsible to the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee, it answers to the CCP's Politiburo. Most of the leaders in the State Council also hold high posts in the CCP.
The State Council, which meets about once a month, operates as the executive branch of the government. It makes decisions, prepares legislation for the National People's Congress, determines the nation's budget, and ensures the Communist party's policies are followed. The State Council's Standing Committee headed by the premier carries out most of these functions, however. The Standing Committee meets several times each week and carries out the day-by-day decision-making process for the government.

Political Parties
Although the Chinese Communist party dominates the government in China, it permits eight minority parties to exist. These are largely made up of people from China's middle-class or of intellectuals--a term that often also includes students. These parties are expected to work under the leadership of the communist party. An opposition party, the Federation for a Democratic China (FDC) was fomred in Paris following the Chinese government's massacre of protesters in Tiananmane Square in the hear of Beijing, China's capital city, in 1989.


1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square
June 4, 1989
Several hundred civilians have been shot dead by the Chinese army during a bloody military operation to crush a democratic protest in Peking's (Beijing) Tiananmen Square.
Tanks rumbled through the capital's streets late on 3 June as the army moved into the square from several directions, randomly firing on unarmed protesters.
The injured were rushed to hospital on bicycle rickshaws by frantic residents shocked by the army's sudden and extreme response to the peaceful mass protest.
Demonstrators, mainly students, had occupied the square for seven weeks, refusing to move until their demands for democratic reform were met.
The protests began with a march by students in memory of former party leader Hu Yaobang, who had died a week before.
But as the days passed, millions of people from all walks of life joined in, angered by widespread corruption and calling for democracy.
Tonight's military offensive came after several failed attempts to persuade the protesters to leave.
Throughout the day the government warned it would do whatever it saw necessary to clamp down on what it described as "social chaos".
But even though violence was expected, the ferocity of the attack took many by surprise, bringing condemnation from around the world.
US President George Bush said he deeply deplored the use of force, and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said she was "shocked and appalled by the shootings".
Amid the panic and confusion students could be heard shouting "fascists stop killing," and "down with the government".
At a nearby children's hospital operating theatres were filled with casualties with gunshot wounds, many of them local residents who were not taking part in the protests.
Early this morning at least 30 more were killed in two volleys of gunfire, which came without warning. Terrified crowds fled, leaving bodies in the road.
Meanwhile reports have emerged of troops searching the main Peking university campus for ringleaders, beating and killing those they suspect of co-ordinating the protests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uieND7g2ye0