Activist Charged for Subversion

It is reported today that Liu Xiaobo, an activist, one of the drafter and signatory to the Charter 08 has been arrested and charged for subverting the national sovereignty/government and the socialist system (煽動顛覆國家政權, 推翻社會主義制度).

I remember we both disagree with certain aspects of the Charter for being going too far
however we accept that it is necessary for an open and healthy debate on the constitutional and political issues faced by the country.

Coincidentally, I read today a column at SCMP by Frank Ching who wrote about "Dengish Whateverism".

His point is - if Deng back in 1979 could turn the table on The Maoist's Two Whateverism" to launch the economic reform and liberalization, the CCP today should be entitled to review Dengist Whateverism, namely, his hardline stance on one party rule.

The silly mantra then was whatever Mao instructed during his life time should be carried out and whatever Mao opposed should never be done.

My fear is this.

There are many supporters for the gradualist approach taken by the CCP since 1979s. I think we are among them. I must confess that I defended Deng all along despite my reservation on the handling of June 4th incident.

Having said that, the snail pace of the CCP's political reform is beginning to loose the patience of her once supporters.

I forecasted the political transformational year for China earliest is 2022. However, what I see today is that the action taken against Prof Liu is and not condusive to creating a gradually incremental approach toward that goal.