Sinologist on China's 'Four Comprehensives'

Ross Terrill, a China specialist, is the author of several books on China including the well-known Mao. [Photo/rossterrill.com]

The "Four Comprehensives," named by Chinese President Xi Jinping in December, are "comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively advancing the rule of law, and comprehensively strictly governing the Communist Party of China."

A strategic blueprint for China's future, the "Four Comprehensives" are not only being closely followed by Chinese officials and media, but have also attracted the attention of the outside world.

In this on-going series - China's "Four Comprehensives" in the eyes of sinologists – we will talk to many China experts who are keeping an eye on the issue.

Ross Terrill, a China specialist and research associate at Harvard's Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, is the author of several books on China including the well-known Mao, a biography of Mao Zedong. The following are his comments through email.

Why do you think China is launching the strategy at such a time?

China faces new responsibilities due to its 3-4 decades of reform success, and that calls for new plans. Power is opportunity. Power also brings duties.

Do China's "Four Comprehensives" have reference values for other developing countries?

Maybe, but Beijing should go slow on that. Africans and Latin Americans can be sensitive about "foreign models".

What connections do you see among the four aspects?

All are interconnected. Furthermore, the party cannot really govern itself. It must allow law to do that, so that the party and society are equal before the law.