China – Do as I Say, Not as I Do

I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965), British Prime Minister

It seems that Winston Churchill’s quote (above) about Russia now applies to China. The Los Angeles Times had an interesting article on China supporting the Iraq elections, but does not allow elections in its country.

...Elections won't work in China because the masses aren't wealthy or well-educated enough to understand the issues, Chinese officials often argue. Elections are at odds with 5,000 years of Chinese history and, anyway, the country already has a democracy with socialist characteristics, they say.

It's becoming more difficult, however, to argue that the people lack the necessary income and education when the nation's performance is rising on both counts. Meanwhile, more impoverished Indonesia recently pulled off an impressive peaceful transfer of power; and India, with its lower literacy rate, remains the world's largest democracy…

Is China just trying to look diplomatic as it prepares to preen before the world in the 2008 Summer Olympics?