China: Careful Steps Toward E-government

Last week the Chinese government held its annual meetings of what, on paper, are its highest consultative and legislative bodies, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC). They are largely viewed as rubber stamp parliaments by foreigners. However, the central government in recent years has tried to play up their credentials as representatives of the people. The People’s Daily, the government’s official newspaper, launched the “E-Two Sessions” website last week where netizens can submit, discuss, and vote on proposals for new laws. An editorial uses some pretty lofty rhetoric in describing the website as a major step forward in participatory government:

This is a witness to the ever-increasing maturity of Chinese netizens. Using their mouse clicks to express their wishes for the motherland, using their keyboards to type out their hopes for the revival of the people, our netizens have become more mature. Their outlooks have become broader. Their attitudes have become more rational. They offer advice for the nation through their writings. They consciously assert their identities as citizens and incorporate social justice and national affairs into their outlooks. This reflects their passion for bearing the responsibility for the nation and participating in the political process. The popularity of the “E-Two Sessions” website is the best witness to netizens’ growing sense of civic consciousness and increasing rationality in expressing their opinions.

And what are the top five proposals with the most votes? As of this writing, they are:

1. Government and party officials of county-level and lower should not have their own special drivers.

2. Cancel requirements for private businesses to apply for licenses in order to increase employment.

3. Distribute subsidies for senior citizens.

4. Crack down heavily on corruption.

5. Enable those who have lost their jobs through reform of state-owned enterprises to also enjoy the benefits of economic reform.

Note that those are just the titles of the proposals. All of them link to separate web pages which contain comprehensive descriptions as well as sections for leaving comments and voting. How much this website will actually affect the proceedings of the Two Sessions is uncertain. And with the Internet in China, one should always approach whatever content, especially that coming from government channels, with a measure of skepticism.