Federalism in China
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chinese federalism refers to political theories which argue that China's central government either does or should devolve large amounts of power to local entities. (See federalism). Such proposals were made in the early twentieth century, in connection with the end of the Qing dynasty; as well as recently, with a view to providing checks against the power of the central government, as well as settling the relationship between the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and other political entities. A few scholars argue that political power in China is already decentralized, albeit on an informal basis.
Contents |
[edit] Nationalist-era proposals
The Revive China Society, founded in November 1894 by Sun Yat-Sen, was among the first to suggest that a future Chinese government should be established on federal lines--a feeling expressed in the organisation's oath, "Expel the foreigners, revive China, and establish a unified government" (驅逐韃虜，恢復中華，建立合眾政府). By "unified government" is meant one such as the United States of America.
During the Xinhai Revolution, fourteen provinces proclaimed independence from the Qing dynasty and reunited as the Republic of China (中華民國 / 中华民国 /Zhōnghuá Mínguó). Prior to January 1912, one semi-official translation of the country's new name was the United Provinces of China. [1] [2] Sun Yat-sen's title in 1912 was "President of the Provisional Government of the United Provinces of China" [3]. Chinese federalists from this period often used "United Provinces" (聯省/ Lían Shĕng)instead of "Federation" (聯邦 / Lían bang) or "United States" (合眾國 / Hézhòng Gúo) because "states" suggested a more independent arrangement than "provinces." In other words, they wished to avoid the impression that federalism implies separatism.
Proposals for a federal Chinese state were first advanced in the 1920s, but these proved unpopular. These often used the phrase United Autonomous Provinces (聯省自治 / Lían Shĕng Zì Zhì}}) as the name of the intended system. Hunan was the center of this movement. The young Mao Zedong claimed to have established a "Republic of Hunan" during that period. But many intellectuals, including Sun Yat-sen, argued that these proposals would limit the ability of China to fight off external invasion and would legitimize the rule of warlords.
[edit] Communist-era developments
After Chinese Communists established the Chinese Soviet Republic in Jiangxi, they aimed at a political system modeled after the union republics of the Soviet Union. According to their plans, China was to be a soviet federal republic with several autonomous republics (such as Mongolia, Turkestan, and Tibet) During the period of the Long March they established a small autonomous republic for Tibetans in Sichuan. In Shaanxi, however, they changed their nationality policy, abandoning their plan to establish autonomous republics (as in the Soviet Union) in favor of autonomous regions. The first of these to be created was Inner Mongolia in 1947.
When the People's Republic of China was found in 1949, it was divided six semi-independent greater administrative areas. The central government was transferred from the People's Government of North China and just controlled northern China and Inner Mongolia. Other greater administrative areas had more autonomy. This autonomy had ended completely by 1954.
More recently, some economists have argued that during the process of Chinese economic reform that the People's Republic has evolved into a de-facto federal state in which provinces have wide discretion to implement policy goals which are set by the PRC central government and in which provinces and localities actively compete with each other in order to advance economically.
[edit] Future Proposals
[edit] "Federal Republic of China"
A Federal Republic of China (中華聯邦共和國 / Zhonghua Lianbang Gongheguo) is a proposed future federal republic encompassing mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan. This "Third Republic" (following on from the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China) is proposed by supporters of the Tibet independence movement, although it would not in effect create an independent Tibet. Yan Jiaqi, writing for the Tibetan government in exile [1], has written that:
"It would be a federation with the characteristics of a confederation. Federal China would consist of two kinds of republics: 'loose republics' such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang: and 'close republics' consisting the rest of China."
According to Yan:
"They would differ from the existing federal countries in their defence, taxation and legal systems"
This model, however, in which the close republics would have an arrangement based on the United States of America, and the loose republics more on the European Union, is not agreed upon by all advocates of a Federal Republic.
[edit] "United States of China"
Another concept is that of a United States of China (中華合衆國 / 中华合众国 / Zhonghua Hezhongguo). First devised in the early 1920s by Chen Jiongming, it was modeled closely after the United States of America. Given the political, social and linguistic realities of China in the warlord period, Chen Jiongming believed that a federalist approach was the only feasible way to eventually establish a united, democratic republic. Beginning with Guangdong as a model state, he wanted to organize a "United States of China in the manner of the American experience" through negotiation with federalists from all parts of the country (New York Times June 27, 1922).
This usage was popularized after Chinese president Jiang Zemin in 2001 made a comment that a united China can adopt a new national name and flag. Large economic ties between China and Taiwan have also motivated the occasional informal use of the term to describe a united China.[2]
The introduction of Special Economic Zones since the 1980s have led to the development of several distinct regional economies within the People's Republic of China, such as the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and the Bohai Circle. Several of these regions have economies the size of small developed nations. Some scholars who use the term United States of China argue that during the process of Chinese economic reform the People's Republic has evolved into a de-facto federal state in which these economic regions have wide discretion to implement policy goals which are set by the PRC central government and in which provinces and localities actively compete with each other in order to advance economically.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Yan Jiaqi. Towards the Federal Republic of China (html). Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
- ^ Allen T. Cheng. The United States of China: How business is moving Taipei and Beijing together (html). Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
[edit] External links
- Davis, Michael C. "The Case for Chinese Federalism"
- Chen Jiongming and the Federalist Movement
- Weingast, Barry R. "Federalism, Chinese Style: The Political Basis for Economic Success in China".pdf version
- Democracy and Its Limits in Greater China
- Allen T. Cheng "The United States of China: How business is moving Taipei and Beijing together" - Asiaweek, July 6, 2001
- Yan Jiaqi. Towards the Federal Republic of China (html). Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
- A proposed constitution drawn up by Chinese scholars in 1994
