The 2012 Counter-reform Era has its roots in the 1989-1992 Counter-reform years. I have long referred to both by a dynastic-era term — 中興 zhōngxīng — “restoration”. A notable late-dynastic restoration was launched as the Self-strengthening Movement from 1861 (see chinaheritage.net/trans…).

China’s reform-era legal institutions and practices – the framework of nominal ethnic autonomy, and the conventions that maintained some degree of separation between Party and state – are steadily eroding as the country moves yet deeper into the nam10.safelinks.protect….