The Economist reports an increasing number of protests in China over the past few years (read article The cauldron boils), which could lead to harsher repressions from the government. Chines people have been enjoying more freedom of speech since the country opened its doors to foreign investors and embraced capitalism. The internet and mobile telephony have facilitated the organisation of mass demonstrations as well.

The Chinese government sustains that soical unrest is common in developing countries with a GDP per capita between 1,000 and 3,000 USD (like China). The question that remains is 'how much will the communist government be able to take on without stepping backward on democracy' ?