Author

Picture of AsiaCentre

AsiaCentre

Founded in 2005, Asia Centre is an independent research institute that holds debates and issues publications on matters relating to international, strategic, economic relations, as well as the political and social transformations underway in the Asia-Pacific region. At the crossroads of university research as well as public and private decision-making, Asia Centre researchers identify critical regional issues and analyse them in-depth, taking into consideration both local and global dimensions. Asia Centre’s programs are developed with a vast network of partners, companies and major specialist centres in Europe, North America and Asia. The Centre carries out joint operations with these groups, for a better interpretation of ideas and issues. The conclusions of these meetings, such as the results of the work carried out using original sources by our researchers, are widely distributed through the Centre’s publications as well as through international journals, books and media.

Other analyses

Taiwan cooking oil scandal: Why Isn’t Beijing Adding Fuel to the Fire? • Isabelle Feng

31 July 2026 No Comments

In this new piece, Isabelle Feng looks back at the tainted cooking oil scandal that has affected Taiwan for several weeks, and at Beijing’s measured response to the affair. She examines the protests held in Taipei on 25 July, the coverage of the event by Chinese state media, and reactions observed on Chinese social media. She puts this episode in perspective alongside the history of food safety scandals in mainland China and the question of freedom to protest on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Read More »

CA 38 – Control at the Grassroots: China’s New Toolbox – June 2012

.PDF
sifan-liu-90fX-NcR_Go-unsplash

Maintaining social stability is at the core of China’s authoritarianism. An elaborated system of “social management” aims at anticipating and preventing social disorder. The Chinese Communist Party has been able to extend its reach by embracing new technologies and embarking on cautious reform. The latest edition of China Analysis examines China’s system of social management, political control and public security. The paper explains how the different parts of the system are being transformed -and it explores the public debates surrounding China’s security apparatus.

China’s complex “stability maintenance machine” is made up of different ministries and administrative bodies – but the system seems incapable of dealing with China’s underlying social problems.

“Social stability” has become a costly activity for local governments as it is their responsibility to deal with incidents that threaten stability. The logic of “zero incidents” led not only to superficial solutions but also to a privatisation of stability maintenance. The central government increasingly controls the public without relying on biased local authorities.

The mission of the People’s Armed Police (PAP) is changing. The PAP is transforming itself from a paramilitary force into a modern integrated and multi-tasking force with a broad mandate to “defend national security and maintain social stability”.

The reform of China’s criminal procedure law sparked a lively debate about the role of the state and how liberties of the individual can be upheld. However, covert investigations, secret detentions and the death penalty remain a feature of the legal system in China.

 

Summary

– CONTROL AT THE GRASSROOTS: CHINA’S NEW TOOLBOX –

Enforcing Stability by Managing Social Conflicts (David Péneau)

Subcontracting Weiwen to Private Firms (Jérôme Doyon)

The Challenges of Transforming People’s Armed Police (Emmanuel Puig)

The Controversy Over Secret Detention (Hugo Winckler)

asiacentre.eu