Last week Chinese authorities released Zha Jianguo, vice chairman of the Beijing-Tianjin branch of the outlawed China Democracy Party (CDP). Zha had served out a nine-year prison sentence for “subverting state power.” Last week also marked the 10th anniversary of the founding of Zha’s party. During a period of political thaw known as the “new Beijing Spring,” the CDP attempted to officially register with the Chinese government. In March 1998, China announced its intention to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, giving hope to the country’s political activists. Grossly overestimating the government’s tolerance for dissent, on June 25, 1998–as then-president Clinton began his nine-day state visit to China–CDP members in the eastern province of Zhejiang signed and posted on the Internet a declaration announcing the establishment of the party’s local preparatory committee. It stated: