Behind the Illusion of Prosperity: Why is the CCP Dragging China Down?

Sep 15, 2024

Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initiated its reforms and opening up, China’s economy has grown rapidly, transforming from a poor and underdeveloped agrarian country into the world’s second-largest economy. However, beneath the surface of economic prosperity lies a highly export-oriented economic model that is heavily reliant on external markets. Its rapid rise has been largely driven by relatively high levels of the global economy (primarily Western economies), rather than being driven by China’s internal political system. Without the cooperation of Western economies, especially in terms of technology, capital, and markets, China’s economic policies alone would not have enabled it to reach its current scale and growth level.

China’s economy is significantly dependent on Western technological innovation, which, in turn, stems from open markets and an environment of intellectual freedom. Western capitalist democratic systems ensure diversity of thought and the freedom to innovate, enabling continual progress in technology and the economy. However, while China has imported Western technologies, it has rejected Western openness politically. This has greatly limited China’s economic development potential, resulting in a heavy reliance on Western innovations and an inability to build true economic self-sufficiency.

This externally driven economic model has created a China that is politically and economically out of sync. Economically, leveraging the fruits of Western civilization has led to rapid advancements in China’s industry and technology; politically, however, China has retained an outdated political system that does not align with its economic level. This dissonance makes China’s economic development appear more like a byproduct of Western-led global economic growth. Once deprived of external support, its development will be constrained by the outdated political system.

If the CCP seeks true economic independence, it can only continue to reform toward greater openness and freedom. However, as demonstrated in the case of Hong Kong, the CCP cannot win the hearts and minds of the people in a relatively free environment. To the people, the freedoms, human rights, and rule of law enjoyed by Western countries are what they should also have. The push for independence in Hong Kong reflects the CCP’s lack of appeal. In an environment of increased transparency, the CCP’s ugly image makes it difficult for it to stand firm. This image is the result of its own actions, and no amount of propaganda can change it.

In mainland China, due to the existence of the Great Firewall, many people are not fully aware of the CCP’s crimes. However, once the Firewall is breached and information flows freely, the public will gradually recognize the true nature of the CCP. At that point, the Party will face the risk of collapse. The CCP’s core interest is the preservation of its regime, and it lacks the ability to lead China toward a better future. Instead, it will drive China toward a North Korea-like situation, with tightening political control leading to closed-off totalitarianism.

Therefore, for the sake of China’s future, the CCP must step down.