China debates Soviet fiasco lessons as economy dips

As China's economy slowed down to 7.5 per cent in the second quarter, media here has stepped up debate about the reasons behind the collapse of the Soviet Union and lessons that the country can learn from it.
"The unrest that finally led to the Soviet collapse is an alarming warning for China," the ruling Communist Party of China-run Global Times said in an editorial titled 'Soviet fiasco a lesson for China'.
"China's own history proves that the country cannot afford to fall into chaos. Unrest will only be accompanied by war and blood," it said.
The article said the collapse of the Soviet Union ruled by the Communist Party in 1991 after about a six decades as it lost control of over reforms.

"The collapse of the Soviet Union came as the regime lost control over the reform process. This is a lesson for all countries. Western scholars view the leadership led by Mikhail Gorbachev as a weak one. It is only ideological leanings that prompt some to lavish praise on him," it said.
It also spoke about economic reforms initiated by China's Communist rulers compared to political reforms Gorbachev tried and lost control in the process.
"It is also worth pointing out that the world has completely different opinions on reforms undertaken by China and those by the Soviet Union. Although the West apparently dislikes China, mainstream opinion has spoken highly of China's reforms, while reforms led by Gorbachev never received such praise," it said.

With economy slowing down to 7.5 per cent in the second quarter and projections the GDP could go down to about six per cent of the world's second largest economy, the clamour to avert a Soviet style collapse is on the rise both within the CPC and the official media.