First, Taiwan had reached a socioeconomic

level that fulfilled the precondition for democracy; e.g., high per-capita income…Second…the lack of landlords and big capitalists and the cross-cutting nature of political and economic cleavages. Third, the regime’s constitutionalist and prodemoecratic ideology, strong liberal-technocrat faction, deep roots in society, and substantial legitimacy and organizational strength facilitated reform. Foruth…the importance of elections and the pressure from a maturing opposition in encouraging the KMT to reform.

While the economic reforms appear perfect in theory, of course, there were snags along the way. State-Owned Enterprises, such as steel mills, could not keep up with the competition of private entrepreneurs. “In many respects large state-owned enterprises represent ‘one of the most important Communist symbols left’ in China, or simple ‘a cancer in the economy.’” The competition became too great, and many large state-owned enterprises had to be overhauled and sold to larger private companies. Similarly in the rural areas, peasants would resort to violence to settle a matter, because cadres no long wielded the fearsome power they once held. And although grain production was increasing dramatically, it could not keep up with China’s growing population. Even though the Chinese were given the freedom to act within a market-driven society, they could not bear the quick shifts in lifestyle and responsibilities. This has led to the development of population control, and China’s breakthrough in foreign policy by entering into Western economies and participating in global markets on a higher level than ever before.

Although this is promising for the future of Taiwan, what lies in store for China? If Taiwan’s freedom came through a slow break from Chinese rule, how will China itself escape its dismal past of democratic attempts? The answer, since the late 1970s, has been internal reform. Deng Xiaoping became the leader of the Chinese Communist Party in 1978,

Some topics in this essay:
Deng Xiaoping’s, State-Owned Enterprises, Deng Xiaoping, Kuomintang’s KMT, Taiwan CCK, Communist Party, Constitution Day, Taiwan KMT, Xiaoping Deng, Ching-kuo CCK, economic reforms, deng xiaoping, state-owned enterprises, market economy, china’s economy, martial law, emphasis heavy, material wealth, foreign policy, slowly introducing,