Keywords: Xi Jinping, Southern Tour, Tibetan, self-immolation

Xi's 'Southern Tour' forecasts economic reforms, says media

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) made his first official visit outside Beijing to South China's Guangdong Province over the weekend, where he urged local governments to continue to "break new ground" and deepen economic reforms.

Following a similar route to the "Southern Tour" made in 1992 by former leader Deng Xiaoping, credited with engineering the three decades of reform and opening-up of China's economy, Xi visited Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shunde beginning on December 7, according to media reports.

Shenzhen police reported that no roads were blocked off for the sake of Xi's motorcade during his visit, a move that won praise from Chinese media outlets, urging local officials to learn from his example.

Some pointed out that the inspection signals the new leadership's commitment to deepening reform and opening-up.

Political commentator He Liangliang said on Phoenix TV that China's fast economic development in the past 20 years is a result of Deng Xiaoping's Southern Tour in 1992. Xi's visit to Guangdong echoed Deng's inspection 20 years ago.

"That is the reason that Xi chose Shenzhen as the first place to visit after he was elected as the CPC general secretary," said He.

Economic expert Qu Jian was quoted by China Economic Net as saying that the "new ground" Xi spoke of may refer to the opening up of the domestic economy.

Qu pointed out that domestic demand will become increasingly important during China's future economic development.

"It is even more crucial now for China to boost domestic demand than it was 30 years ago," added Qu.

The Xinhua News Agency praised Xi's low-profile trip in an opinion piece, saying that if high-level officials could only stop other abuses such as excessive private use of government vehicles, China would have an easier time in carrying out political reforms.

China.org.cn urged all officials to follow Xi's example and avoid aggrandizing the importance of their visits in the future, saying it "would help bring them closer to the people."

"If someday we get used to meeting officials on the subway, on the street or in our neighborhoods…it would help forge a new bond between officials and the people," said the article.

Self-immolation draft law praised by Chinese media  

Those who plan, organize, incite or help others perform self-immolations will be tried for murder, according to a regulation recently drafted by China's Ministry of Public Security and judicial bodies.

The draft regulation provides legal basis for authorities to prosecute those involved in encouraging self-immolation, said Chinese media.

According to a statement released by Sichuan police on December 9, a monk and his nephew confessed their role in inciting eight people to set themselves on fire since 2009 at the behest of the Dalai Lama clique, resulting in three deaths.

Chinese media all blamed the Dalai group's inhuman encouragement of young Tibetans to perform self-immolations, while some said that the regulation would be of great assistance to local authorities in dealing with self-immolation cases.

The Global Times (English edition) blamed the inhumane doctrine of the Dalai group, which sacrifices young Tibetans for their political interests.

The paper pointed out while many of the Dalai group's principles are based in human rights, inciting self-immolation is the worst kind of human rights violation.

"In any case, young lives are much more precious than any 'glory.' They shouldn't be sacrificed to the political interests of the Dalai group and some Western forces," added the paper.

Gansu Province-based Gannan Daily praised the regulation in an editorial, saying that it provided the legal basis for authorities to prosecute criminals.

"Self-immolations are a kind of crime, and also in violation of the Buddhist spirit. The regulation can curb self-immolations," read the article.

Criminal law expert Han Yusheng echoed this view during an interview with Hong Kong-based paper Wen Wei Po, suggesting that the regulation would give more confidence to local police in dealing with such cases."

Inciting others to perform self-immolation is a way of depriving others of their lives, which constitutes homicide. Such criminals will not set themselves on fire, but rather achieve their political purpose through the self-immolation of others," said Han.

Xiong Kunxin, a professor of ethnic studies at Minzu University of China, said in a Global Times (Chinese edition) opinion piece that most Chinese will be glad to see this regulation carried out in ethnically-Tibetan areas.

Xiong said although ethnic issues are sensitive, it does not mean that laws and regulations cannot be carried out in these regions.

"Apart from a legal approach, we can also help publicize proper Buddhism beliefs through films or speeches by eminent monks to help correct the wrong opinions of young men there," added Xiong.