The Observer: Fears Grow over Pace of Reform as China Ushers in New Leaders

From Tania Branigan in the Observer, “Fears Grow over Pace of Reform as China Ushers in New Leaders”:

"Deng Xiaoping had a famous saying about how reform should go: 'Crossing the river by feeling the stones'," said Gao Wenqian, previously an official researcher and now a senior policy adviser at the New York-based Human Rights in China, who says that he is sceptical that any significant changes will actually materialise. "The present situation is 'feeling the stones, but not crossing the river'."

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"In the past, the high speed of economic growth could ease the problems. China's pace of economic development has declined right now, and it has exposed the social problems," said Gao.