China’s religious connectivity takes one small step forward

ARTICLE: “No Disputes Over Beijing’s New Bishop,” by Howard W. French and Ian Fisher, New York Times, 21 September 2007, p. A10.

Good to see. No great sense of breakthrough but a business-like approach to something that could have set nascent ties back, so optimism is the order of the day.

Had a talk with a senior China hand yesterday at State and it was interesting how he described Beijing’s political leadership slowly realizing that all this rising connectivity was creating obligations and relationships with outsiders for which--quite frankly--these guys have never felt any responsibility in the past, but now they have no choice.

More and more Chinese work abroad. When they get in trouble, they text home and their relatives ask the government what it’s going to do about it.

More and more Chinese travel abroad. They need more services and help and consular support.

More business disputes, more environmental issues, more complaints by foreigners about foreign policy ties, etc.

Every sliver of connectivity begets follow-on connectivity, follow-on responsibility and responsiveness. Over time, a government and bureaucracy that was solely focused on internal control becomes increasingly reoriented toward external affairs, over which their capacity for control is highly circumscribed. All the while, the average person is getting more demanding, expecting more in terms of services, with nationalism fueling a sense of growing entitlement (“This is not how a great power takes care of its people!”).

Fascinating stuff, especially in the religious realm, which people are taking more seriously by the day across China. And so connectivity with the Vatican is necessary, however awkwardly achieved.

And every time it's achieved, there’s yet another “county” to be heard from on a regular basis.