The third aspect of China's government system, the political welfare provided by the government, is probably considered the most important of the three by Chinese citizens. The PRC government, in spite of its grave errors in the past, has done a great deal for the Chinese people. The first great accomplishment is the unification of China as a nation. After the revolution of 1911 when the government of the Qing dynasty was overthrown, China was politically divided. Military leaders of different provinces occupied their own territory to extract rents for themselves. There was no political stability. National unity was important to protect China from domination by foreign powers and to provide political stability and law and order. Law and order provided by the PRC government is important for economic and social progress.

As someone accustomed to law and order in the United States since 1948, it has taken me several visits to China to appreciate its importance. Several experiences impressed me. In 1982 while visiting Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, I needed to send a telegram and asked my host to stop the car by a post office to send it. He said he would send it for me. I insisted on doing it myself. When I entered the post office, I found that people did not line up in front of the service window and there was no way for me to get to the front to submit the draft of my telegram.