Communist Party wants “tighter controls” in university ahead of its congress

Xi Jinping, the current vice president and heir apparent to Hu Jintao, calls on universities to “adopt firmer and stronger measures to maintain harmony and stability in universities” ahead of the 18th party congress, which should sanction his rise to power. Beijing is afraid of a repeat of the Arab spring.

eijing (AsiaNews) – A few months before the Chinese Communist Party 18th congress, set for next October and expected to sanction the succession to the current leadership, Vice President Xi Jinping ordered university to intensify ideological control over students and young professors.



"University party organs must adopt firmer and stronger measures to maintain harmony and stability in universities. Daily management of the institutions should be stepped up to create a good atmosphere for the success of the party's 18th congress," Xi said yesterday in Beijing at a gathering of university officials.



Plans have been made to ensure the smooth opening of the congress, said Liu Yandong, the highest-ranking woman in the party who is in charge of education.



In his address, Xi emphasised the importance of keeping an eye on lecturers, especially young ones. The latter “have many interactions with students and cast significant influence on them” and “play a very important role in the spread of ideas".



The Chinese regime, which remains tightly controlled by the party, is increasingly showing signs of nervousness ahead of next fall’s congress. For years, the country has been racked by social unrest, ranging from armed confrontations to peaceful demonstrations. All this is caused by many factors, including illegal land grabs, labour disputes and pollution.



In order to avoid more unrest at a sensitive time like the congress, the Communist Party is stepping up its propaganda efforts and tightening its controls over mass media and the country as whole.



Beijing is afraid that a period of transition and changing of the guard might spark protests similar to those that led to fall of many regimes in the Middle East.

