Ordinary Chinese don't seem to care about reforms. Maybe it's because they have no stake in them

Today, reform is not pitched so high, but the reform measures being rolled out are getting deeper and deeper – even words like “democracy, freedom, and the rule of law” are being put forward. We can’t say that reform is moving too slowly, so why do more and more people feel a sense of distance and helplessness with it comes to reform? Of course the reasons are numerous and complicated, but I’ll simply put forward a few points for further discussion. 

First, we haven’t solved the problems of the source and structure of power. Generally speaking, China hasn’t been able to realize Xi’s idea of “putting power within a cage of regulations.” As a result, powerful interest groups have formed. As long as there are no limits on power, every kind of interest group can “hijack” the fruits of reform. So the benefits of reform are more and more concentrated in the hands of a small number of people, while the general public has to bear the risks of reform. 

Second, the reform measures are good, and the slogans are very pretty, but many of these policies never make it out of Zhongnanhai – or if they do, they are changed, shelved, or made toothless at lower levels. For example, the recent introduction of a rule of law with Chinese characteristics raised a lot of hopes, but very few people believe that this “rule of law” can really prevent all officials, low and high, from bullying and violating the rights of citizens. The problem is that these same officials are responsible for implementing and supervising the rule of law. So, on one hand, you have vigorous publicity about the rule of law. On the other hand, a young man can be wrongfully convicted and executed, with no way to file an appeal or reopen the case. This sort of situation is not uncommon. Interest groups and officials only promote measures which are favorable to them; they have no motivation to pursue those reforms that are beneficial to the public. This is quite a normal phenomenon when officials are appointed by superiors rather than elected by the common people.

More @ The Diplomat