Global Times:
Some countries claim to be models of democracy for the whole world, but their response to the pandemic was awful and their social governance disordered, which is contradictory to that message. What are the functions of democracy? What are the standards for evaluating democracy? Thank you.
Tian Peiyan:
Democracy is not a decorative ornament, but an instrument for addressing issues that concern the people. True democracy should both take full cognizance of and fully realize the people's aspirations; give full expression to diversified opinions and advice, and form the united will of all the people; spur social creativity and vitality to the largest extent, and uphold social equity and justice effectively.
For a long time, America has claimed itself as a model of democracy for the whole world. However, in the face of a pandemic unseen in a century, the American democratic system has exposed numerous of its maladies. In responding to the pandemic, due to serious political polarization, endless disputes among political parties, lack of coordination in different levels of government, and malfunctions in social oversight, America has failed to prevent and control the pandemic, which resulted in infections of nearly 50 million people and a death toll of more than 800,000. Such democracy will only bring disasters rather than happiness to the electorate .
In the face of COVID-19, the CPC and the state have prioritized the people by putting their lives and health first, confidently risen up to the challenges and made resolute decisions, waging an all-out people's war against the virus in the shortest possible time. We have leveraged our institutional strengths to mobilize the whole nation and carried out a campaign to save lives on an unprecedented scale, which have reflected the country's nationwide coordination and solidarity. We have done everything possible to treat all patients, ranging from new-born infants to centenarians, saving countless lives. This has fully demonstrated that China's democratic system respects and protects everyone's life.
How do you evaluate whether or not a country's political system is democratic and efficient? General Secretary Xi Jinping has given a definitive answer: It mainly depends on whether the succession of its leaders is orderly and in line with the law; whether all the people can manage state and social affairs and economic and cultural undertakings in conformity with legal provisions; whether the public can express their requirements without hindrance; whether all sectors can efficiently participate in the country's political affairs; whether national decision-making can be conducted in a rational and democratic way; whether people of high caliber in all fields can be part of the national leadership and administrative systems through fair competition; whether the governing party is in charge of state affairs in accordance with the Constitution and the law; and whether the exercise of power can be kept under effective restraint and supervision. History has proven that the China's style democracy works well in China. History will prove that the CPC will lead the Chinese people to enrich and improve the Chinese way of democracy, so that the tree of democracy will flourish with vitality. Thank you.
