Peaceful rebellion a reminder of China's rigid political mindset
Yun Tang says Hong Kong policy should be reviewed at the upcoming fourth plenum
The Occupy Central protests in Hong Kong are still raging, and testing Beijing's rule in the former British colony - bringing into new focus the perennial themes of Chinese politics, democracy and nationalism.
The peaceful rebellion demanding universal suffrage is the largest, most prolonged protest in China since the Tiananmen crackdown of 1989. It has exposed the clumsiness of Beijing's elite in running Hong Kong following the 1997 handover.
The turmoil has sounded the alarm that the growth of China's soft power lags awkwardly behind its economic development. Last week, the International Monetary Fund announced that China had surpassed the US in purchasing power parity, thus becoming the world's largest economy.
However, there is a stark contrast between China's material achievements - inspiring awe and admiration - and its rigid political system, which evokes dislike and fear.
Without an attractive political system, including freedom of information, China can never be a real superpower; instead it will be a giant with feet of clay.
Last month, speaking at the 65th anniversary of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, President Xi Jinping said "democracy is not a decoration", meaning it must have enforcement power.
