HONG KONG -- Since Deng Xiaoping began the process of reform and opening up almost 28 years ago, China has repeatedly had internal debates, often heated, as to whether changes had gone too far.
A recent well publicized article in the official People's Daily newspaper shows that another debate is raging, but party leaders, including President Hu Jintao, have come down decidedly in favor of pressing ahead with reform.
The authoritative nature of the article published earlier this month was reflected by the wide publicity given to it by the official media. It called on all party members to "unwaveringly uphold reform" and said China had no choice but to deepen market reforms and open further to the outside world.