For decades there has been debate at the highest levels of the Chinese government about how much to modernize politically to (ensure) growth and stave off revolution.
It’s notoriously difficult to analyze the inner workings off the Chinese Communist Party. But today it seems that the liberals are losing the debate. China seems to be turning inward - moving away from a strategy of increasing (openness) and connection to the West and toward one of greater self-reliance and tighter internal controls.
Just look at China’s response to the uprisings in the Middle East. The country’s leadership made no concessions or openings. Instead, it (cracked down) on any inkling of protest, banned sensitive Internet searches and clamped down on the media.
China not only banned the word “jasmine”, it banned jasmine flowers too out of fear of a “Jasmine Day” of protests. Rather than letting off (popular steam) through greater openness and freedom, China has come down on the side of increasing restrictions.