P.R. IN
THE PRC
JIA QINGLIN
in the Great Hall of the People
for the 17th Congress of
the Chinese Communist Party
October 2007
As the member of the nine-member Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party responsible for chairing the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Jia Qinglin is somewhat quaintly referred to by the authorities as a "political adviser." At the opening meeting of the annual CPPCC meeting in the Great Hall of the People yesterday, Jia said, according to McClatchy, that "We will strengthen our external publicity work so that the international community can learn more about our country's political system . . . so that we can win its understanding and support for China."
When the outside world learns "more about our country's political system," China will win "understanding and support." Right. I remember in 1992 when I covered the 14th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, my minder delighted in repeating in answer to my questions attempting to "learn more about" the political system of the People's Republic of China, that "In the Information Department we have no information."
Now the plan is said to be to spend billions "to expand the global reach of its main state media outlets, giving it the ability to beam pleasing news from China to a wider audience."
"Pleasing news," but real information, especially about the political system, is rather likely to be as lacking as before.
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