News Service from House Harris

CHI: China moves to ease social tensions amid economic crisis

China's announced measures aimed at absorbing job losses and staving offcivil unrest .. amid rising concerns the economic crisis is fuelling long-simmering social tensions across the country.

The policies cover a wide range of areas .. like raising compensation for farmers kicked off their land .. helping laid-off workers .. ensuring policehandle protests correctly and clearing a backlog of sensitive court cases.

China's Communist Party has long been obsessed with social stability .. concerned that any type of protest could escalate into a major challenge to its 59-year rule.

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