'Jasmine' Protests and Chinese Social Management

The head of China's intelligence and security services said in a Feb. 21 speech that Beijing should make "social management" — controlling the public to prevent protests or other incidents — a top priority. The speech is a reflection of the government's unease over domestic problems and fear of contagion from unrest in the Middle East. Beijing has instructed local governments to clamp down on signs of domestic unrest, but the country has internal security threats other than small-scale protests — namely rising food, fuel and housing prices and financial system risks — all of which have put increased pressure on China's leadership ahead of its formulation of its 12th Five-Year Plan and a 2012 leadership transition.