CPI-M broods over imponderable changes in China

The draft ideological document, presented by CPI(M) polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury before the ongoing 20th Congress of the party, says "negative tendencies" like economic inequalities, unemployment, corruption and nepotism have surfaced in socialist countries including China, who have embarked on a course of reforms to meet the challenges of present-day world realities.

The report says China, which has charted out a "socialist market economy", had witnessed a 13-fold increase in the urban-rural income gap in the last 18 years. China has more billionaires today than any other country other than the US.

In China, the draft says, thousands of corruption cases are coming out every year. Several have been jailed or punished for breaching administrative or party discipline in the last few years.

The CPI-M views seriously the stand of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which has dropped the concept of imperialism from its understanding. "In the absence of anti-imperialist direction, there are signs that nationalism becoming the main sentiment among Chinese youth," it says.

CPI(M) also cannot digest CPC`s decision in 2002 to admit capitalists into the party and feels that with the entry of entrepreneurs and businessmen, the party`s ideological and political orientation could come under new pressures.

Though China has made tremendous strides in development of productive forces and economic growth, the very process has clearly brought out the adverse changes in social relations in that country, the draft says, adding, the future of the country would depend on how successfully these contradictions are dealt with.

The CPI-M document pats the progressive governments in Latin America who have drastically reduced their economic dependence on the US and have increased trade with other countries. Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia stand on a firmer anti-imperialist footing and are nationalising various public assets which were previously under private control.

Drawing lessons from the experiences in other countries, the party cautions cadres against powerful deviations like relying merely on parliamentary activity, neglecting class struggles through mass mobilisation.

The party congress is expected to adopt the resolution after debate this evening.