How the Communist Party of China Manages the Issue of Nationality: An Evolving Topic (China Academic Library)

This book introduces the background of China’s issue of nationality from the very beginning. Throughout the country’s history, all the nationalities that lived and prospered on Chinese land created a pattern of cultural diversity within national unity through their interaction and integration. The formation of this pattern is due not only to the geographical fact that China covers a broad expanse on the Asian continent but also to the historical fact that it is home to disparate and ancient human heritages, and to culturally diverse historical sources. The book’s five chapters explain the evolution of the CPC’s policy towards nationalities. At the time of the PRC’s founding, the Common Program (in essence an interim Constitution) passed by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress (which was composed of people from all sectors of society and all of China’s nationalities) not only declared that people of all China’s nationalities had equal rights, but also stipulated that: regional national autonomy would be practiced in all areas where minority nationalities were concentrated; that all nationalities had the right to develop their native languages and culture and to maintain or reform their customs and religious beliefs; and also mandated that people’s governments support the development of minority nationalities in the areas of politics, the economy, culture and education. In the final section, the book demonstrates that the subject of how the CPC addresses nationality-related issues is a dynamic one that encompasses the past, present and future, and is simultaneously an answer, a process and a question. Acknowledgements 6 Contents 8 Chapter 1: Introduction 12 References 33 Chapter 2: Taking into Perspective the Historical Conditions in China and Building a United Multi-nationality Country 35 2.1 The People of the Five Directions Create a Multi-­nationality Country 36 2.1.1 Chinese Civilization Is Rooted in Multiple Sources and Many Currents 36 2.1.2 “Categorize the Clans and Make Distinctions among Things”, and “the People of the Five Directions” 37 2.1.3 “Unite All the Lands under Heaven”, “Rule According to Local Customs”, and “Harmony without Removing Distinctions” 43 2.1.4 All the Nationalities Together Building a United Country 45 2.2 The “Racial Revolution”, “Republic of the Five Nationalities”, and Construction of a “State Nation” 46 2.2.1 China “Watches the World with Its Eyes Open” 46 2.2.2 Nationality and Race-Nationalism 49 2.2.3 The Revolution of 1911 and the Republic of “the Five Nationalities” 51 2.2.4 Joint-Provinces Autonomy and a Federal State 53 2.2.5 Building “a State Nation” in “a Melting Pot” 55 2.3 The Chinese Nation and a United Multi-nationality Country, National Self-determination, Autonomy and Building a Federal Country 57 2.3.1 National Self-determination, Autonomy and a Federal Government 57 2.3.2 “The Clan and State Nation” as Described in the Three People’s Principles, Namely Democracy, Nationalism and People’s Livelihood 60 2.3.3 Self-determination and Self-rule of Minority Nationalities 63 2.3.4 The Liberation of Minority Nationalities Was an Integral of the Chinese Revolution 67 2.3.5 Frontier Crisis and the Broadest Possible National United Front 68 2.3.6 The Term Chinese Nation Is a General Term Encompassing All of China’s Nationalities 70 2.3.7 Establishing a United People’s Republic and Exercising Regional National Autonomy 73 References 79 Chapter 3: Practicing the Principle of Nationality Equality and Exercising Regional National Autonomy 82 3.1 Identifying Nationalities and Carrying out Democratic Reform 82 3.1.1 The Large Family of the Chinese Nation 84 3.1.2 Peaceful Liberation and Democratic Reform 87 3.1.3 The United Front and the Upper Class of Minority Nationalities 91 3.1.4 Training a Cohort of Minority Nationality Cadres 93 3.2 Nationality Policy and Equal Rights for Minority Nationalities 95 3.2.1 Political Equality 96 3.2.2 Economic Development 98 3.2.3 Cultural Prosperity 101 3.2.4 Social Security 102 3.2.5 Opposing Two Kinds of Nationalism 103 3.3 Comprehensively Exercising the System of Regional Autonomy 106 3.3.1 Why Did the CPC Give up the Federal System? 107 3.3.2 How Did China Exercise Regional National Autonomy? 110 3.3.3 The System of Regional National Autonomy Is an Unprecedented New Creation 114 References 117 Chapter 4: Developing the Western Region in the Primary Stage of Socialism 119 4.1 Exploring Nationality Affairs and Its Major Setbacks 119 4.1.1 Understanding the General Challenge for the Chinese Society 120 4.1.2 From “Advancing Cautiously” to “Achieving Greater, Faster, Better, and More Economical Results” 124 4.1.3 To Jump into Socialism in One Step 125 4.1.4 “Nationality Issues Are Essentially Class Issues” 127 4.2 The Primary Stage of Socialism and Nationality Issues 132 4.2.1 Setting Things to Rights and Reform and Opening Up 132 4.2.2 Formulating and Promulgating the Law on Regional National Autonomy 135 4.2.3 “Two Issues of Overriding Importance” with Economic Development as the Central Task 138 4.2.4 Challenges Posed by the Collapse of the Soviet Union 142 4.3 The Strategy for Developing the Western Region and Solving Nationality Issues 148 4.3.1 Guidelines for Nationality Work 148 4.3.2 Implementing the Strategy for Large-Scale Development of the Western Region 151 4.3.3 All Nationalities Striving Together for Common Prosperity and Development 155 4.3.4 Remarkable Achievements in the Large-Scale Development of the Western Region 156 4.3.5 Arduous Tasks Ahead in the Large-Scale Development of the Western Region 163 References 167 Chapter 5: Safeguarding National Unity, Opposing National Separatism 170 5.1 Occupation of Chinese Territory and Erosion of China’s Sovereignty by Imperial Powers 171 5.1.1 Imperialist Annexation and Occupation of Chinese Territory 171 5.1.2 Imperialists Carving Up China 174 5.1.3 “Suzerainty” for “De-Sovereignization” 177 5.2 The “Historical Legacy” of Nationality Issues in China Left by the Imperial Powers 178 5.2.1 The “Tibet Issue” Created by the British 178 5.2.2 “Taiwan Independence Force” Cultivated by Japanese and US Imperialism 184 5.2.3 Soviet Support of “East Turkestan Forces” 189 5.3 Safeguarding National Unity and Opposing Ethnic Separatism 192 5.3.1 The Need for the People’s Liberation Army to Enter Tibet 192 5.3.2 Opposing Internationalization of the “Tibet Issue” 197 5.3.3 Peaceful Reunification and “One Country, Two Systems” 203 5.3.4 Curbing Taiwan Independence and the Anti-Separation Law 206 5.3.5 Consolidating Border Defenses 211 5.3.6 The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Fighting against Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism 214 5.4 China’s Long and Arduous Fight Against Separatistism 217 5.4.1 Continuing to Strike a Balance between Development and Stability 218 5.4.2 Upholding and Improving the System of Regional National Autonomy 222 5.4.3 Firmly Adhere to Peaceful Development as the Central Theme of Cross-Strait Relationship 230 References 235 Chapter 6: Building a Harmonious Society and Achieving Sound Development 239 6.1 Building a Harmonious Society and the Relations between Nationalities 240 6.1.1 Comprehensive Approach Taking into Consideration the Diversity of Interests 240 6.1.2 The Harmony of Nationality Relations 244 6.1.3 Respecting Differences and Embracing Diversity 247 6.2 Cultural Resource Protection for a Harmonious Society and Sound Development 254 6.2.1 Respect for Culture in a Harmonious Society 254 6.2.2 Sound Development and Cultural Resources 259 6.2.3 Developing and Enriching the Cultures of Minority Nationalities 262 6.3 The Symbiotic Sound Development of Humanity and the Ecological Environment 271 6.3.1 Biodiversity and the Ecological Crisis in the Western Region 271 6.3.2 Sound Development and Ecological Awareness 276 6.3.3 Development Problems Still Awaiting Solution 279 References 283 Chapter 7: Conclusion 285 References 318 Bibliography 320 Index 327 This book introduces the background of China's issue of nationality from the very beginning. Throughout the country's history, all the nationalities that lived and prospered on Chinese land created a pattern of cultural diversity within national unity through their interaction and integration. The formation of this pattern is due not only to the geographical fact that China covers a broad expanse on the Asian continent but also to the historical fact that it is home to disparate and ancient human heritages, and to culturally diverse historical sources. The book's five chapters explain the evolution of the CPC's policy towards nationalities. At the time of the PRC's founding, the Common Program (in essence an interim Constitution) passed by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress (which was composed of people from all sectors of society and all of China's nationalities) not only declared that people of all China's nationalities had equal rights, but also stipulated that: regional national autonomy would be practiced in all areas where minority nationalities were concentrated; that all nationalities had the right to develop their native languages and culture and to maintain or reform their customs and religious beliefs; and also mandated that people's governments support the development of minority nati onalities in the areas of politics, the economy, culture and education. In the final section, the book demonstrates that the subject of how the CPC addresses nationality-related issues is a dynamic one that encompasses the past, present and future, and is simultaneously an answer, a process and a question Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction....Pages 1-23 Taking into Perspective the Historical Conditions in China and Building a United Multi-nationality Country....Pages 25-71 Practicing the Principle of Nationality Equality and Exercising Regional National Autonomy....Pages 73-109 Developing the Western Region in the Primary Stage of Socialism....Pages 111-161 Safeguarding National Unity, Opposing National Separatism....Pages 163-231 Building a Harmonious Society and Achieving Sound Development....Pages 233-278 Conclusion....Pages 279-313 Back Matter....Pages 315-329 1. Introduction -- 2. Taking Into Perspective The Historical Conditions In China And Building A United Multi-nationality Country -- 3. Practicing The Principle Fo Nationality Equality And Exercising Regional National Autonomy -- 4. Developing The Western Region In The Primary Stage Of Socialism -- 5. Safeguarding National Unity, Opposing National Separatism -- 6. Building A Harmonious Society And Achieving Sound Development. Shiyuan Hao. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.