Is it really accurate to describe the mission of the government of China as an international crusade for profit? That seems to me to place an equal sign between the Chinese state and imperialist states.

The Chinese Revolution was a powerful one that took 1 billion people out of the stranglehold of capitalism. Unquestionably, the Chinese workers state was badly deformed at birth—it never had a revolutionary leadership. And things are even worse today. But to refer to “Beijing’s international crusade for profit” seems to me to further confuse the issue. The bureaucratic caste depends on the existence of the workers state for its survival. Regardless of the capitalist aspirations of sections of that caste, the workers state has not been overturned.

Betsy Farley
Boston, Massachusetts  
 
China II
An article in the November 20 issue of the Militant pointed out that companies owned by China exploited workers in some African countries, in contrast to the policies of Cuba in Africa. It seems that China is practicing imperialism in Africa and capitalist exploitation at home.

I have read articles that thousands of coal miners die in mostly privately owned mines in China every year. However, the workers and peasants of China have not been passive in the face of this vicious exploitation and there are thousands of “social disturbances” in China. But there is no revolutionary leadership, and indeed, the Chinese government would probably repress a real communist organization. However, sooner or later, the oppressed of China will definitely learn lessons and challenge the rule of the capitalist wannabes in the ruling clique.

Nick Brisini
Hastings, Pennsylvania  
 
On to 16-page ‘Militant’
The Militant looks good, and the 16-page issue (the latest I got by mail) looks and feels good. Now on to 16 regularly and 24 as soon as the necessary cadres can be put together to make 16 the norm.

I think we have still got a long way to go in convincing more readers to make better use of “On the Picket Line” as a way to give voice to the battles under way around the country and the world, and draw young workers toward collaborating on short pieces for that column.

The paper reads better and your efforts to make it easier to read are appreciated, by me at least.

The articles about Our History Is Still Being Written and its reception in the Asian Pacific and Chinese communities and perhaps soon in China are thrilling.

Robin Maisel
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
 
 
Related articles:
Beijing expands trade, investment in Angola
Is China capitalist?  
 
 
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