China braces for social unrest

China: China's security chief has told provincial officials they need to be more prepared for the “negative impact” of slowing growth, underscoring Beijing's concern a slowdown could bring social unrest.

Large-scale strikes have swept China's southern manufacturing heartland in recent weeks, as workers face off with employers juggling high costs and exports shrunk by lower demand from the debt-burdened West.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Politburo, said in a speech to officials from north China Friday that authorities needed to improve their system of “social management” -- including increasing “community-level” manpower.

“In the face of the negative impact of the market economy, we have not formed a complete system of social management,” Zhou said, in comments reported by the state Xinhua news agency at the weekend.

AFP