China seeks reforms, while retaining state and party's power

[Barun Mitra]

Will a Rising China Be a Responsible China?

The Chinese Communist Party’s Third Plenum released its plan for
reforms, including moving toward the free market in allocating
resources, abolishing prison reeducation, easing the one-child
restriction for some families and eliminating local control over the
judiciary. Despite such guidance on reforms, though, the plan is also
designed to strengthen the party’s control, writes journalist Frank
Ching. And some reforms move along more tentatively: for example, the
party is poised to allow the market to lead on many commodities and
basics, but still describes the state sector as “the mainstay” of the
economy. The document reveals openness to economic expansion, with
plans for transportation infrastructure called the "Silk Road economic
belt" and a bilateral investment treaty with the United States and the
European Union. Often, no timeline is announced for specific policy
action, but recognition is high that economic power can lead to
political, diplomatic, military and soft power as well. – YaleGlobal

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/will-rising-china-be-responsible-china