Leslie Massey
China and Australia are often compared and contrasted in terms of their democratic systems. While Australia is considered a democratic country, China, officially the People's Republic of China, is described as a people's democratic dictatorship with a socialist state framework led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). China's political system is considered authoritarian, with limited civil liberties and judicial independence. On the other hand, Australia takes pride in its democracy, yet there are discussions on how to improve it and whether it is fair to compare it with China's system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of government | China: People's democratic dictatorship; one-party state; socialist state; authoritarian. Australia: Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Head of state | China: President (figurehead); General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (holds ultimate power). Australia: Monarch (King Charles III) |
| Legislature | China: National People's Congress (NPC). Australia: Parliament |
| Political parties | China: One dominant party (Chinese Communist Party) with eight minor parties. Australia: Multiple parties |
| Political opposition | China: Illegal. Australia: Allowed |
| Freedom of speech and assembly | China: Severely restricted. Australia: Allowed |
| Censorship | China: Widespread. Australia: Limited |
| Dissent | China: Harshly punished. Australia: Not applicable |
| Welfare | China: Among the world's top 25% performers. Australia: Not applicable |
| Civil liberties | China: Bottom 25% performer. Australia: Not applicable |
| Judicial independence | China: Bottom 25% performer. Australia: Independent |
| Economic system | China: Mixed market economy. Australia: Market economy |
| Global influence | China: Second-largest economy; biggest exporter and manufacturer; leading consumer of natural resources. Australia: 13th-largest economy; significant exporter of natural resources |
| Recognition of Israel | China: Yes. Australia: Yes |
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What You'll Learn
China's political system is considered authoritarian
Secondly, there are strict restrictions on freedoms of assembly, expression, and movement in China. The government imposes tight controls on most aspects of daily life, including constant state surveillance of its citizens and strict regulatory measures on the media and civil society. Freedom of speech and assembly are severely restricted, and censorship is widespread. Dissent is harshly punished, and the government actively opposes foreign meetings with groups that it considers separatist movements, such as the 14th Dalai Lama in Tibet.
Thirdly, China's leaders have pursued an expansionist agenda that seeks to increase state control over personal freedoms and rights. For example, Xi Jinping has called for China to become a global standard-setting power, with initiatives like the New IP, which would give the state control over the flow of data. China has also provided technology and training to other countries to enable them to monitor political opponents and control online public opinion, as seen in Zimbabwe and some Southeast Asian countries.
Finally, China's political system lacks transparency and the rule of law, which poses challenges for multinational companies seeking to do business in the country. The system is designed to consolidate power in the hands of the CCP and the country's leaders, rather than to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens. While China has made some moves towards democratization, such as holding contested elections at the village and town levels, the country's political system remains fundamentally authoritarian in nature.
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China's government is a one-party state
China is a one-party state, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) serving as the only legitimate political party that can wield state power. The CCP holds two-thirds of the seats in the National People's Congress (NPC), the highest organ of state power and the only branch of government. By controlling the NPC, the CCP effectively wields complete state power.
The CCP constitution and the constitution of the People's Republic of China state that the country's form of government is a "people's democratic dictatorship". This gives the CCP a monopoly on political power, rendering all political opposition illegal. While there are eight minor political parties in China besides the CCP that are legal, they must accept the primacy of the CCP to exist.
The CCP's control extends to all levels of the state, with party committees maintaining a pivotal role in the administration of governmental institutions. The CCP's general secretary, currently President Xi Jinping, holds ultimate power and authority over the state and government with no term limits. The CCP's leadership follows Marxist-Leninist and Maoist ideology, outlawing other parties from participating in elections, holding government office, or seizing state power.
In contrast, Australia is considered a liberal democracy, where citizens can elect their governing party and influence the economic system. While Australia's democracy is a source of pride for many Australians, it is important to acknowledge that democratic governance is a work in progress, and both countries face their own unique challenges in this regard.
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China's civic space is rated as closed
China's civic space is rated as "closed" by Civicus Monitor. This is due to the Chinese government's restrictions on civil society and civic freedoms, which are considered to be highly restricted. The government has been known to detain, try, and imprison civil society actors, including lawyers, journalists, academics, and bloggers, for their peaceful activities. The government also restricts the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, with censorship being widespread and dissent being harshly punished.
The Chinese political system is considered authoritarian, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) holding ultimate power and a total monopoly on political power. The CCP controls the National People's Congress (NPC), the highest organ of state power, by holding two-thirds of the seats. The CCP has removed term limits for the presidency, allowing the individual holding the offices of president, general secretary, and chairman of the Central Military Commission to have de jure and de facto power over the country.
In recent years, there has been a legislative shift towards greater control over foreign NGOs, with the implementation of the Foreign NGO Management Law and the compulsory registration of foreign NGOs with the Ministry of Public Security. The government has also adopted a more hostile rhetoric towards foreign intervention and actors who are seen as jeopardizing national security.
Despite the restrictions, there have been some positive developments. Recent legal reforms have opened up new pathways for nonprofits to raise funds domestically, and the government appears to encourage the flourishing of civil society in non-controversial sectors such as environmental protection and public health. However, many NGOs self-censor and align themselves with Chinese state interests to ensure their survival in the country.
Overall, while there are some signs of increasing civic space in specific sectors, China's civic space is still rated as "closed" due to the government's tight control over civil society and the restriction of fundamental freedoms.
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China's censorship and punishment of dissent
China is considered an authoritarian state with a socialist framework based on the system of people's congress under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP holds a monopoly of political power, with all political opposition deemed illegal. The CCP controls state activities by holding two-thirds of the seats in the National People's Congress (NPC), the highest organ of state power and the only branch of government.
Censorship in China is mandated by the CCP and is one of the strictest censorship regimes in the world. The government censors content for various reasons, primarily political, such as curtailing political opposition and censoring events unfavourable to the CCP. This includes the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, pro-democracy movements, the persecution of Uyghurs, human rights issues in Tibet, and aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CCP actively suppresses dissent and punishes critics. Foreign journalists have had their press credentials revoked for criticising CCP policies. The government has also targeted foreign news broadcasts, occasionally censoring them during controversial segments. In 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China launched a hotline for reporting "historical nihilists" and "illegal" comments about Chinese history, with offenders facing jail time and other punishments.
The Chinese government justifies its censorship by asserting its legal right to control online content within its territory, arguing that it does not infringe on citizens' right to free speech. However, this stance has been criticised, with the World Press Freedom Index ranking China 178th out of 180 countries for press freedom.
Beyond censorship, the CCP also employs tactics such as intimidation, harassment, arbitrary detention, and torture to silence dissent. Human rights defenders, including activists, lawyers, and citizen journalists, face significant risks for their work. The CCP also targets Chinese citizens living abroad and students studying in Western universities, subjecting them to surveillance and censorship to prevent engagement in "sensitive" political issues.
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China's view of international democracy
China's political system is considered authoritarian, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exerting control over the country's legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The CCP's constitution states that China is a ""people's democratic dictatorship", governed by the party, giving it a monopoly on political power and rendering all political opposition illegal.
However, China's interpretation of democracy differs significantly from the Western notion of liberal democracy. Academic Zhang Weiwei promotes the idea of Chinese socialist democracy, which combines "selective democracy" with electoral democracy. In contrast to Western procedural democracy, this model seeks to democratise international relations by enhancing the influence of non-Western countries in global decision-making.
China's actions on the global stage reflect this perspective. For example, the PRC has actively advocated for free trade areas and security pacts among its Asia-Pacific neighbours, excluding the United States. Additionally, China has been accused of employing technological controls, mass surveillance, and information warfare to maintain its authoritarian rule and suppress pro-democracy movements, particularly in Hong Kong.
China's approach to democracy is influenced by its commitment to socialism and its interpretation of democratic centralism. While it seeks to increase the voice of non-Western nations in international affairs, its domestic practices often fall short of meeting democratic ideals, as evidenced by its ranking as the third least electoral democratic country in the world, according to the 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices.
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Frequently asked questions
No, China is not a democratic country. It is a one-party state governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and does not hold national elections.
The CCP holds two-thirds of the seats in the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's highest organ of state power. The CCP is led by the country's president, who serves as a ceremonial figurehead. In 2018, the NPC removed term limits for the presidency, allowing Xi Jinping to assume an unprecedented third term.
Yes, Australia is a democratic country. Australians are proud of their democracy, but it is important to recognize that it is a work in progress and can always be improved.
Australia's democracy is different from China's in that Australians can change the party governing the country, but not the economic system. In contrast, a Chinese national explains that in China, they "cannot change the governing party but we can change the system."
