When China's President Hu Jintao opened the Communist Party's pivotal 17th National Congress on Oct. 15, the 2,000-plus delegates probably didn't expect the 64-year-old to flog the word democracy. But he did, using the term more than 60 times in 2 1⁄2 hours, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. But before anyone could break out the voting booths, Xinhua carried another story that clarified what Hu really meant: China would continue to develop democracy "with Chinese characteristics" under the "leadership of the Communist Party."
Such promises will ring particularly hollow to the scores of Chinese who have found themselves questioned,...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
