China's need for political reform to match its economic progress was noted as long ago as August 18, 1980, when Deng Xiaoping gave a speech critical of concentrating power in the hands of Communist Party secretaries at all levels. Seven years later, Zhao Ziyang, then CCP secretary, proposed "separation of party and government." During the massive public demonstrations of 1989, reporters and editors for the official People's Daily newspaper called for an end to censorship of reporting on government abuse and corruption. Twice in press conferences during his tenure as Premier, Zhu Rongji has spoken in favor of carrying out competitive...
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