China's Rural Conflicts and Beijing's Response

Rural instability has become a notable concern for Beijing. Previously marked by brief and episodic unrest, rural discontent has grown sustained and is happening on a larger scale. A series of protests in rural areas over the past year peaked in Wukan, where thousands of villagers staged three months of unrest after land seizures by local governments. After decades of promoting industrialization and urban development at the expense of rural concerns, Beijing now wants to be seen as addressing rural needs.