1 October marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. What is most telling about the state of the nation, however, is how that anniversary is being marked by officialdom.

The measures in place in Beijing and elsewhere seem to be best suited to mobilisation for war, rather than preparation for diamond jubilee celebrations. The Central Government has imposed a blanket ban on National Day parades outside of Beijing. The capital’s taxicabs have been thoroughly bugged. Two Japanese journalists were viciously beaten for filming a practice run of the military parade due to take place. More recently, the stabbings which have occurred in Beijing’s streets in broad daylight have contributed to the general atmosphere of paranoia.

The overwhelming impression is one of national insecurity in the ranks of the Central Government. A Government which is not prepared to allow its own citizens to mark the founding of the People’s Republic, or which threatens repercussions if a book with a critical analysis of Chinese culture over the past 5,000 years is published in Hong Kong, is clearly not a Government which views itself as being securely in power, appearances of power and opulence notwithstanding.

Politburo member Zhou Yongkang stated that maintaining social stability is the overriding objective in the run-up to October 1. Yet it is precisely this relentless stifling of dissent and discussion that is most dangerous. As Iain M Banks put it in his novel Inversions:

Oh, they hear constant grumblings. The day they stop hearing grumblings I shall be sure that revolt is imminent.