China's Democratic Aftershocks

Leslie Hook, the Wall Street Journal | May 30, 2008

Last month's devastating earthquake in Sichuan has taught the Chinese a very important lesson, namely the importance of civil society. ++ The outpouring of foreign and local aid accompanied by a plethora of new philanthropic websites and aid organizations, has been too massive for the government to regulate. ++ As the Party feels its grip wavering, Chinese citizens are coming together from all over the country to ease suffering and rebuild villages. ++ This is only one of several challenges to the one party's monopoly of control.