EDITORIAL : THE GLOBAL TIMES, CHINA

Labor strikes do not herald revolution

Some truck drivers in Shanghai went on strike last week to express their discontent over rising costs. The Shanghai municipal government responded by cutting the fees over the weekend and quickly defused the tension. Trucks laden with cargo containers are operating as usual once again at China's busiest port.

This is a typical event with clear labor interests at play. It can be assumed that similar incidents will continue to occur.

Due to the broadening of China's market economy, interests will be further differentiated, and it will become tougher to avoid clashes among various interest groups. Such conflicts will essentially become a normal part of China's social make-up.

Some Western media outlets have paid close attention to the Shanghai strike, and linked it to the "Jasmine Revolution." Over the past months, more than a few Westerners have politicized any mass event in China, and interpreted it as a fuse to spark a "revolution." Nevertheless, such comparisons have consistently proved to be invalid.

Most mass events in China center around interests – they barely relate to a so-called revolution in Western eyes. Take the Shanghai strike. It was essentially a labor dispute in a market economy, a frequent occurrence in the West. It took Westerners several centuries to form mechanisms to deal with such disputes.

At the moment, European workers tend to go on strike to demand better benefits, and Americans prefer to urge labor unions to negotiate with employers.

Chinese society lacks experience in coping with labor disputes. There is no fixed model for China to follow. Due to the special national situation here, the government needs to play a significant role in coordinating labor relationships. It should also endeavor to maintain the basic consensus that any behavior seeking to intensify labor disputes should be opposed, since the society can not be overwhelmed by disputes.

As citizens in a large country, Chinese may need to undertake more social responsibilities. For instance, once a labor dispute emerges, both parties are obliged to seek a proper solution, rather than leaving more troubles for society to deal with.

It is sure that the government needs to further improve its social governance, and find better solutions in dealing with newly emerging social conflicts. This is the wish of both the authorities and most ordinary Chinese. These mass events, after all, are not heralding a potential revolution here.

As in the West, special interests exist in every walk of life here. It is problematic to blindly politicize all these demands among Chinese citizens.

Besides, more than a few mass events have directly urged social progress and improved governance from authorities. Overall, China's social mood is more positive than depicted in Western speculation.