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This line in Wang Chi's op-ed is a familiar distortion: "Confucianism is inherently undemocratic; it encourages obedience, not freedom or personal liberty." Confucianism neutered in support of the state perhaps, but it is largely concerned with virtue. That's why its dangerous.
During a Lei Feng revival in 2011/12, I wrote "Chinese political culture contains a lot of dangerous ideas for [the party]. This may go a long ways toward explaining Beijing’s fickle relationship with Confucius as a symbol of Chinese culture." jamestown.org/program/anothe…
Even in politics, Confucius’ emphasis on virtue far outweighs obedience: “in the face of a wrong or unrighteousness, it is the duty of the son to oppose his father, and the duty of the servant to oppose his superior.” And there is a lot to choose from, below is just a few samples
Analects 2.3: "The Master said: Guide them with policies and align them with punishments and the people will evade them and have no shame. Guide them with virtue and align them with li and the people will have a sense of shame and fulfill their roles."
Analects 4.11: "The Master said, The junzi cherishes virtue, the small man cherishes land. The junzi cherishes the examples men set, the small man cherishes the bounty they bestow."
Analects 12.19: Confucius replied, Of what use is killing in your governance? If you desire goodness, the people will be good. The virtue of the junzi is like the wind and the virtue of common people is like the grasses: when the wind blows over the grasses, they will surely bend
Analects 17.23: The Master said, “The junzi gives righteousness the topmost place. If a junzi had valor but not righteousness, he would create chaos. If a small person has valor and not righteousness, he becomes a bandit."
Worth remembering that Chinese rulers have distorted Confucianism since the Han Dynasty for the purpose of stability. A whole branch of thinking is devoted to neutering Confucianism of dangerous ideas to the powers that be. But virtuous rule not tyranny is Confucius' message.
