I have heard people from China argue about the chaos that would ensue if the Chinese had more freedom and how hard it is to hold such a large country together, but I still think it comes down to a government ruled by old, regressive cowards, afraid of the future and of uncontrolled electrons...
Meanwhile, the Yellow and the Yangtze are on the verge of flooding and potentially killing thousands of people. The more things change, the more they stay the same?! Let's hope not.