huh?  No real change over the last 10 years?<p>As a rule I try to shy away inflammatory criticism, but this was a very poorly researched post.<p>There has been TREMENDOUS change over the past 10 years!  You have to remember that until Deng's reforms in the late 80s, China was a completely closed society that was just beginning to heal from decades of strife and instability (almost 100 years!), including the cultural revolution which literally turned society upside down and placed a freeze on societal progress.<p>Since the early 90s China has made leaps and bounds in regards to reform and progress.  YES they are still MANY problems, but the changes have been very substantial.  China will surpass Japan this year as the 2nd largest economy in the world.  Outside of the US and Russia, it holds the third largest stockpile of nuclear arms.  The accolades are many...<p>That said, its unfair to really compare China with South Korea/Japan, who've not only had a huge lead time, but also don't have 1.3 billion people to feed, provide jobs for, and yes control.<p>All of this growth and sudden change has caused problems, corruption and protectionist economic policies (not to mention the increasingly dangerous heights of nationalism the CCP is stimulating among the populace, especially the youth).  To say however that Chinese society is corrupt and have been "meddling in business for thousands of years" is absurd and frankly a bit fox-news in rhetoric.<p>One of the things I love most about HN is that the community here is in general "smarter" than more general-interest social news communities.  That said, I wish people would take a more balanced view on China.  Yes there are problems and the CCP is no benevolent big brother but as the poster above me has pointed out the issues are not black and white.  There are many many many nuances in uplifting a nation of 1.3 billion people into modernity.  I'm not convinced that an open, free-market system is the best solution.  Perhaps down the road, but not now.