The peasantry in the People's Republic of China

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A Half Million Peasants Plunge Into Rebellion in Four Provinces
By Li Zijing, Hong Kong Cheng Ming, 1 August 1997. Widespread peasant petitions, demonstrations, riots, and even rebellions in 1996–97, sometimes backed by rural or lower Party cadres. Their cause was the new economic policies enforced on the countryside, growing official corruption, and a weak Party infrastructure at the local level.
Plight of Chinese farmer
The Straits Times, 5 September 2000. Farmers' declining market returns result in fiscal crisis for rural government. High level indebtedness by peasants and rural governments. Some relief measures beyond the reach of most villages because the annual interest on loans was 18 percent. Even though the central government has vowed to pay peasants above market prices, farmers have difficulties selling their crops to the authorities.
Seeds of Revolt in Rural China: ‘Farmers' Heroes’ Give a Voice to Besieged Taxpayers
By John Pomfret, The Washington Post, 8 May 2001. Silent battles raging for the past decade between farmers and local government officials squeezing hard for more tax revenue. The state-run press has coined a new term, farmers' heroes, for those leading the battle for tax relief. Central government bans onerous fees. Stagnant farm incomes. Local resistance to tax reform.
Rural Cash Squeeze Slows Reforms
China News Digest, 8 January 2002. Rural fiscal crisis. Relations between rural cadres and peasants worsening day by day. As farmers' cash income dwindles, rural governments lose tax revenue and approach collapse. The growing gap between rural and urban residents in China. The tax-for-fee experiment.
Officials Warn Against Rural Instability
China News Digest, 11 January 2002. Mainland China will face potentially dangerous turmoil if no effort is made to raise the standard of living of rural population, who are being forced to pay much of their incomes in quasi-legal fees and taxes levied by insensitive or corrupt lower-level officials. Entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) may cause significant economic distress and instability, especially in rural areas.