As the incidence of SARS, an atypical pneumonia, continues to grow, its effect on Chinese society has become a matter of interest. Although in Japan debate is concentrated on the effect of SARS on the economy, I would like to focus on its political effects in China. In more detail, I would like to focus on whether the SARS epidemic can be turned into an opportunity to hasten China's political reform.

I believe that although from a short-term viewpoint the possibilities of such an effect are slim, from a mid- to long-term viewpoint, the chances of SARS having a major impact on Chinese society, including its politics, is extremely high.

Firstly, the traditional culture of contempt for human life, especially that of the general public's, will be revised. Concealing the situation and impeding information, major factors of the epidemic, are problems that come with the present governmental system but at the same time are problems that are rooted in the traditional culture of disregarding the value of human life. As the capital of Beijing became the largest infected area, fears for the country's very existence, if respect for people's lives is not implemented, is growing.

Secondly, the economic policy of placing top priority on GDP growth should be revised as well. In the last 20 years, China's economic policy has, as its most important proposition, concentrated on GDP growth. It was under this policy that distortion in resource distribution grew and the social insurance and medical service systems declined. Criticism of this economic policy has grown as it became clear that in addition to bureaucratic negligence, the inadequacy of the social insurance and medical service systems was a major factor in the spread of the epidemic.

Finally, the effect on the political policy of disregarding the people's right to know and the control over the freedom of the press has been enormous. As the epidemic grows, so does the voice of the nation demanding information disclosure and freedom of the press. While the possibilities of political reform as a direct result of such movements are low, I believe the Chinese government will reform itself into a more open administrative system with higher accountability.

Taking the history of the economic reform, which was started with the aim of improving the socialist economy and ultimately leading China into a market economy, in consideration, the possibilities of attaining the final political goal of democracy, after continuous reforms that follow every crisis, are high.