The underlying question is this: Should we hold China to the same western standards that we follow? If we do, then yes, the Chinese government is barbaric towards its people. After all, it is against western-standards to execute tax-cheats and I believe the list of crimes that will get you executed is a long one. In reality, China is one "congested" nation full of people, which results (in governments eyes) a loss of value in human life. Right or wrong, this is how they deal with their issue of overpopulation. I don't think we can (or should) judge China by what we think is right or wrong; just like we shouldn't judge the middle east by our standards. China has a system in place to deal with its people and it works. Also, remember the reason you can get a $5 pair of jeans from Walmart is because of the value system in China!
modey3