When China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, many Western analysts believed that rapid economic growth and the rise of a well-educated middle class would inevitably lead to democratization. For a time, that prediction seemed plausible. Yet, more than two decades later, China has not transitioned toward democracy.
Why? One key reason is that only a small minority of Chinese citizens worry about the fragility of private property rights in the country. While political elites and wealthy businessmen often safeguard their assets abroad—frequently in the United States—the average citizen is encouraged to take pride in China’s aircraft carriers, nuclear weapons, and space program. This sense of collective national ownership fosters loyalty, but it masks a deeper truth: in China, the state ultimately owns the individual.
Anything a person possesses—wealth, property, or even opportunity—can be claimed by the government at any time. Much like air, freedom and security are taken for granted until they are suddenly withdrawn.