Beijing Picks Its Delegates for Taiwan

Show many Taiwanese the official list, and they'll squint their eyes and look perplexed. Some shrug their shoulders or scratch their heads as they search in vain for a single familiar name. The citizens of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan didn't help pick 13 delegates who will purportedly represent them when China's national legislature meets next week. Beijing did it for them, and none of the delegates lives on Taiwan. Most have never even visited.

Well, if it's any consolation, mainland citizens didn't help pick the delegates who will purportedly represent them: JOSEPH KAHN reports:

China's election law reads like an invitation. Any citizen desiring to run for a local legislature need only find 10 supporters to sign a petition. The right "to elect and be elected," the law stipulates, "is guaranteed to everyone over 18 years of age, regardless of ethnicity, race, sex, profession, family background, religious belief, education level or financial status."

Just try it. The members of China's legislature are "handpicked", and in any case,

will, as usual, approve laws that senior leaders have already decided to pass. They will vote for a slate of candidates for top government positions that senior leaders have already decided to elect.

update
John Pomfret on "the threat of creeping democracy"--delegates are refusing to rubber-stamp the Communist Party's chosen candidates. Meanwhile, ELAINE KURTENBACH says Communist leaders "ignore public opinion at their own risk" and cites those who say it looks as if the new leaders are going to speed up the restructuring process.