NationStates Jolt Archive

The first elections since the reunification of China promises to be an interesting affair, with democracy finally being allowed to flourish (within the confines set by the Emperor of course). With 13 parties vying to make the 5% threshold to enter parliament, there are a crop of new faces and old ones as well.

Main parties

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) : The incumbent party that has ruled mainland China for 50 years, although whether it can cross the 5% threshold for her first democratic election is in question after losing almost all it's voters since Emperor Zhang announced his intention to form his own political party. Led by Premier Li, who is widely percieved to be incompetent and responsible for Xiaguo's defeat. Current polling gives it 8.5% support. Seeks continuation of policies practiced in the former Xiaguo. Regarded as left-wing, and proposed continuation of support for Hotan and establishment of relations with the Progressives and Beth Gellert. Will withdraw from WEC.

United China Party (UCP) : Formerly headed by Charles Zhang now deceased, Emperor Jonathan Zhang has taken the reigns of this party, resulting in a huge opinion poll boost, and some counts suggest he could govern alone. While in a western country an absolute monarch running for presidentcy would be considered a huge conflict of interest, Zhang is so popular at the moment almost all voters have discounted this. Credited with ending Liu's reign and the resulting economic boom that followed. Some polls give it close to 63% of the vote. Has implemented social welfare reforms in Sino and closed the last unprofitable state owned enterprises in Xiaguo. Regarded as centre-right. Has endorsed isolationist foreign policy in the past, but recent events and statements by Zhang has indicated some discomfort with Holy League policies. Will continue to attempt to improve ties with the more moderate Progressives, Elias, and NATO. Social policy is becoming increasingly conservative, with Zhang pushing a bill to eliminate short skirts and bikinis on TV.

Social Democracts (SD) : Newly formed but already the largest left-wing party, with polling support giving it 28%. Amicable relations with UCP's new leader and largely similar economic and foreign policy, but is opposed to Chinese entry into WEC. Supports continued isolationism and end to trade with the Holy League. May run into hot water with the UCP (and much of their own membership) over their support of civil unions and gay rights.

Christian China Party (CHP) : Polling at 6%. Supported universally across China by Christians of all denominations. Has lost some support since Zhang's entry into the political landscape. Foreign policy is largely in line with the UCP, except disagreement over what they see as Zhang's premature judgement of HL intentions in Asia. Has a "extremist" image among mainstream voters due to protests against buddhist temples, and would support compulsory Christian education in schools, and government encouraged (or pressured?) conversion to christianity in Tibet and Xinjiang.

Others :

Socialist Progressive Party (GP) : Polling at 1.1%. Probably sponsored by overseas progessives. Supports free tertiary education, gay marriage, and is strongly anti-monarchist. Supports free Tibet. Several political analysts are suggesting the Green Party could be deemed illegal by Zhang before the time of the election. Policies are strongly influenced by Beth Gellert. Has seen clashes between supporters and Roman Catholics.

Our nation is willinging to support Democracy in your nation. Demorcracy is the way to go, these days!

The UCP looks to be the best choice here. We support them!

I suppose your choice is good, although i dont fully agree with communism. But thats your choice not mine.

What is WEC?

My choice wasn't communism...

Sorry. Please accept my apologies!

Don't worry, no offense taken!

I take it neither of you know what is ment by the (AMW) tag?
Ah well i'm sure we can live with the odd random post.

As with the recetn Quintonia elections the Strathdonians are more or less undecided about who they woudl preffer to win. OF the five parties the trio of the UCP, CHP and SD come out the preffered choices, all have thier pluses and minus, the UCP are seen as a bit draconian by some of the more liberal memebers of parilment but thier overall platform seems fairly similar to current Strathdonian leanings, the SD gaina few points in thier mroe relaxed policies (Strathdonian while very much a presbiterian nation sees no need to deny anyone govenrment rights and services on the basis of thier sexuality so civil/legal partnerships are availbel for same sex couples, just don't expect any of your neighbours to be happy about it). While the CHP are christian which is a good thing as far as Strathdonians are concerned thier inability to plainly see the inhereint evilness of the HL does paint them as somewhat foolish.

The Indian Soviets, at the moment, do not have an agreed position on China's elections, partly because -in something of a weakness- most Sovietists regard party politics as hardly more proper than royal succession, and maintain a deliberate disinterest. However, many have been shouting into the wind in an effort to encourage a more ambitious and forceful Third Commonwealth to be more pragmatic.

When they realise that the party system leaves them in a position of uncertainty over where to leave their support, many Sovietists lose interest once again, making it an uphill battle for others to legitimise substantial direct support for one of the left parties.

Some have suggested that the leaderships of several parties may be influenced in creation or since infiltrated by the right in a ploy to divide support and make all parties smaller. Still, a few private citizens are attempting to return to China -something that was strongly advised against since the Sinoese junta took to abusing and killing Indians in the country- carrying different agendas. A few are prepared to volunteer their services in distributing electoral propaganda and giving public speeches, even trying to offer policy advice to the three left-leaning parties, with the Socialist Progressives attracting a number of such volunteers out of proportion with their popular support at this point.

Those Senates and Soviets that have so far discussed China's elections include many who feel that it might be advisable for the more left-wing politicians and voters to join bigger soft-left parties and attempt to radicalise them to some degree, though other speakers have suggested that this may simply lead to the final death of the far left in China... most feel that such criticism is out of touch, since China doesn't appear at all likely to turn Sovietist any time soon, and aiming only to limit the massive nation's damage on other societies might be best. With this in mind, SD isolationism looks appealing, for the sake of Nepal and Vietnam especially, where delecate left-wing reforms are potentially vulnerable.

The bulk of Soviet involvement, in the absence of an official decision favouring any one party, is in simply promoting leftist ideology, with efforts to bring to China a lot of information on the Indian revolution, primarily looking at the contrast between Maoist-era hardships in China and high social equality in South India, along with reforms in poor West Bengal, which are progressing, gradually, without anybody starving to death.

A little more ...low are speeches and leaflets given out -hardly in number enough to reach all Chinese directly- speaking of European and Roycelandian imperialism in the region, and the struggles against it, along with frequent references to the coastal enclave of Goa, maintained as a colony by Roycelandia as if it were, oh, say, Hong Kong or Macau. Not that the leaflets printed by large organisations in India make any abosolutely direct accusations about UCP or CHP complicity with this sort of thing, or association with the western imperialists in Asia.

bump

OOC: Are foreign donations to parties allowed...? (The Apostles want to maintain a friendly relationship...)

(There's nothing to stop Chinese citizens, whether born in China or not, with foreign connections to donate large amounts of money to political parties. This is after all, China's first democratic election and rules against monetary aid by foreigners have really yet to be tested.)

Election-related headlines

Emperor Zhang has launched an official enquiry into leaflets dropped by the Socialist Progressive Party into Hong Kong University letterboxes. The leaflets are alleged to encourage "strong and active protest" against PLA torture in Tibet.

"None of the alleged torture incidents have been proven to take place," a government spokeman replied. "The content of the newletter is designed to stir up violence in the name of Tibetan autonomy and contains a litany of falsehoods, when in fact the human rights situation in Tibet has improved substantially since Emperor Zhang has come to power."

Australian-based former Taiwanese President turned political commentator Chen Shui Bian has condemned the interpretation of the leaflets as too harsh.

"All that has been encouraged is protest, although the Progressives have really brought this one upon themselves by openly supporting free Tibet, a big no-no regardless of who heads China. They are also the only political party to really rip into Zhang, with the others all afraid to do so"

The United China Party also recieved some constructive criticism from the Social Democrats today, following rumours that next year's budget, released after the election, features a large increase in defence spending.

"While Zhang has made tremendous progress in previous years by cutting wasteful programmes such as manned spacecraft and much of Sino's defence forces, we believe that valuable funds are being wasted on new military projects in the current benign political environment."

Polling this week (2 weeks to go)

CCP: 6% (down 2%)
UCP: 62% (down 1%)
CHP: 5% (down 1%)
SD : 31% (up 3%)
GP : 2% (up 1%)

(numbers may not add to 100% due to MMP's electorate representations)

(The actual date of the election was some time after the BG-China talks but before Iron West. Will also use this post to explain the intricacies of the Chinese political system.)

As predicted, the UCP romped home with a 58% landslide victory and is thus able to govern alone. Responding to criticisms that an absolute monarch should not have dabbled in politics, Zhang has stepped down as founder of the UCP and Foreign Affairs minister Hu Jin Tao is now Prime Minister.

There were a few surprises as well - the former Mayor of Guangdong won the Guangdong seat while running for Liu's former party, the National Stratocracy (Natsi's according to their opponents), a move likely to send shockwaves through the world. The DPP, Chen Shui Bian's pro-independence party in Taiwan, also won the Tainan seat. The DPP have attracted voters through their foreign policy which touts alignment with the non-alighnment bloc. The Socialist Progressive party (GP) did not win any seats and have suffered a major internal crisis after the Soviets recognised Tibet.

A look into the administration

Emperor Jonathan Zhang : Technically not part of the government but wields huge influence over the administration. Has absolute power over the nation but rarely wields it, except in cases where the government is under a clear threat (i.e Liu's former Junta). As the Emperor, he has complete knowledge over the runnings of the government and offers his advice and views, but doesn't use his absolute power. Tends to be a "dove" on foreign policy and quite well aligned with his Prime Minister Hu Jin Tao. Holds an affinity for Quintonnia. Some of his advice has led to the thawing of relations with Beth Gellert, the establishment of an alliance with Quintonnia. Would like to open talks with Roycelandia to sort out the Phillipines.

Prime Minister Hu Jin Tao : Ran an isolationist foreign policy while he was foreign minister but was marginalised by General Chang after the Roycelandian incident on the Phillipines. Also a dove on foreign policy, and generally backs up Zhang's views.

Minister of Defence General Chang : The second-most powerful man in the country, his help was vital in removing Liu's junta. The most conservative and right-wing person in the government, his views on foreign policy are quite similar to those of R.L USA neo-cons in Latin America and SE Asia. Recently asked for the deployment of carrier groups around the Phillipines, a move seen as instrumental in getting Roycelandian troops off the island. Although clashes with Zhang and Hu on many occasions, the fact that Chang has gotten it right on several occasions (Forceing the French back out of the Phillipines, followed by the Roycelandians), has given him a respect that no one else on the administration commands. Currently running the campaign in Depkazia, and has lobbied for a full-scale attack on Russia to seize Kazahkstani and Siberian oil fields.

Minister of Finance Li Mei Chen : A believer in fiscal discipline, and does not usually concern herself with foreign affairs except in the case of trade. Has proposed approaching the Progressives with the intention of engaging in free trade, but finds herself blocked by General Chang. It is rumoured amongst tabloids that she and Emperor Zhang are sleeping together, but no one dares print anything that hurtful against Zhang.