Another positive response came just before the convention of the Fourth Session of the 11th National People's Congress, when the Ministry of Public Security issued a directive instructing the police not to get involved in building demolitions and land requisitions. It made clear that such actions fall outside their duties. Although the response came after a number of tragedies in which the police were involved, but it is still an encouraging signal.

It is also encouraging that the Party leadership has emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth with social equity and called for the majority of people to benefit from the country's development. This is a departure from the tendency to concentrate on economic growth at the cost of people's livelihoods, and it is also a response to the concerns of ordinary people.

Our lawmakers are currently gathering to review the guidelines for our development in the next five years. Even if the final decisions do not satisfy everyone, I think they will benefit most Chinese people.

None of these policies and proposals could be achieved if the country was in chaos.

I am not an ardent supporter of absolute social stability, since I believe contradictions and social injustice are inevitable so long as there are diversified interests and society is moving forward. But taking to the streets is no solution to the nation's problems and social equity can never be reached through social disturbance.

In fact, people of my generation have seen much worse chaos in China than that in Middle East. That was during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976), when many government departments collapsed and officials were kicked out. Few Chinese people who went through that period would welcome such events happening again.

Even though I am not a shrewd investor, I know I cannot pin my future on some anonymous sources with no accountability, just for the enjoyment of those who won't bear the consequence.

That is why my childhood friend and I, as well as many other Chinese people like us, do not approve of what some Western news people have been up to.

The author is a guest professor of journalism at the Renmin University of China.