Stock Is Most Active." New York Times, sct. D5), began trading shares. The stock should be an attractive one to investors: Chinese electrical "demand ... is expected to grow by a whopping 17 million kilowatts a year until the turn of the century" (Zuckerman, Laurence. "A Foreign Offering's Unsure Pedigree." New York Times, sct. D6). Moreover, China stands to gain from the issue's sales. "The company plans to use the $311 million dollars it received from the offering to retire $83 million in loans from ... Chinese State entities. It also plans to expand its overall generating capacity" (Zuckerman D6). Nor does this signify the only Chinese attempt of raising capital from foreign sources on foreign soil. "Three more power companies are expected to be listed in New York and Hong Kong in the coming months" (Zuckerman D6). Given the apparent strength of the Chinese economy as shown by huge public works projects, extensive foreign investments, participation in the world economy, and a generally higher standard of living by the populace, it would appear that China is now ready to join the world as a modern capitalistic and democratic society. However, this is not quite the case. The CCP retains vestiges of those characteristics of insularity and intransigence as discussed by Nathan. Because of its human rights record, the country's economic growth is being impeded. That is, the politics of China, which have always been allied with its economics, are now restricting international growth. The United States, especially, has been concerned with China's treatment of political dissidents. In May of 1999, President Clinton decided to end linking China's trade status with the United States with its record on human rights. The president has been criticized for this because of situations like the following: trials for "'counterrevolutionary activities', including plans to use a remote-controlled airplane to drop pro-democracy leaflets over Tienenmen Squ...
