Wang Xiangwei

Opinion | How can China’s reforms succeed when officials act like overbearing parents?

The ‘we-know-best’ mentality prevents market forces from playing a decisive role and affects investor confidence

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Wang Xiangwei

Published: 5:30am, 5 Nov 2024

Back in 2022, when China was in the midst of strict zero-Covid controls, which involved frequent and sudden citywide lockdowns and stay-at-home notices, I met an overseas Chinese entrepreneur, whom I deeply respect, in Tianjin during one of the rare, blissful interludes. His conglomerate is one of China’s largest foreign investors, with businesses scattered across the country.

During our conversation, he offered an observation that has stuck with me. Fresh from lengthy meetings with local officials, he said he was genuinely touched by their selfless and tireless work ethic. He noted these officials had worked non-stop without weekends or holidays, which he believed could only happen in China.

Indeed, during those extraordinary times, local officials were known to have slept in their offices for weeks, even months, to ensure residents locked down in their homes had enough daily necessities, from groceries such as vegetables to medicine – a monumental task.

Even in normal times, officials at all levels are often portrayed as sacrificing their leisure time to serve the people. In many ways, they have been dutifully trained and encouraged to follow the “parental” magistrate system, which started more than 2,000 years ago. This system, based on the parent-child relationship, calls for officials to rule by treating their subjects as their children.

As China contemplates a new round of reforms and opening up to bolster its sagging economic growth, re-engineer its economy and embrace technology to steer it onto a healthier track, the obsession with the “parental” magistrate system has become one of the biggest stumbling blocks.

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Before addressing that critical issue, some history of this system is in order. Western media often describe China’s style of governance as running a nanny state, where the government relishes giving too much advice, making unnecessary laws to interfere with people’s choices and regulating how they should live their lives. China’s “parental” magistrate system is much more than that.