Sinologist on China's 'Four Comprehensives'

A reader with his copy of Mao in Shanghai. [Photo/rossterrill.com]

As a national strategic blueprint, what changes do you think the "Four Comprehensives" will bring to China's future?

China will learn that being king of the beasts brings challenges. The smaller animals will nip at China’s ankles. They will say China used to be a victim, but it is now strong. But we smaller counties, are we the new victims?

Will the strategy have influence on the world's future development?

Yes, the USA-led world is fading away. An opportunity exists for China.

Besides the four areas, what else are there in China's overall framework for future administration that you think need to be improved?

Put resources into cultural soft power. That will do more for China's reputation than more submarines. I hope the four aspects will assist a measured rise of China that balances economic growth with political freedom; that takes pains to achieve give-and-take between China's culture and other Asian and world cultures; that appreciates the 21st century world as an interlocked whole; that rejects hyper nationalism; that is cautious about quickly becoming number one, because the US is more resilient than believed by some eager Chinese nationalists and some of the US's own pessimistic intellectuals.