[Marxism] New Orders II--China

[S. Artesian]

There are some who think China will escape political and social upheaval 
from the fallout of the  recession and financial meltdown.

Apparently, Wen Jiabao, China's prime minister, is not among them

According to today's Financial Times, Wen wrote in a CCP magazine that 2008 
"was the most difficult in recent years" and maintaining high growth was a 
priority. Wen is quoted:

"We must be crystal-clear that without a certain pace of economic growth, 
there will be difficulties with employment, fiscal revenues, social 
development...and factors damagine social stability will grow."

Says the FT:  "Slowdown fears in China were exacerbated by two surveys of 
the manufacturing sector which showed a sharp decline.

The China purchasing managers' index compiled by the brokerage CLSA fell 
from 47.7 points to 45.2 points [if this index is run like that in the US 
and EU, below 50 indicates contraction in the manufacturing sector] in 
October--the steepest monthly fall and the lowest point since the index 
started in 2004.  Meanwhile, a government-backed survey of manufacturers 
dropped 6.6 points to 44.6 in October, also a record fall."