To illustrate chinas governing pattern after 1949 zheng 2007 identified the overall structure of its central local relations as de facto federalism and argued that although china does . Chinas central local relations have interested me for years in the 1980s chinas reformist leadership implemented radical decentral ization while promoting economic development it also generated enormous problems in the late 1980s encouraged by the then lib eral environment associated with the political reform initiatives. Yongnian zheng de facto federalism in china reforms and dynamics of central local relations series on contemporary china vol 7 new jersey et al world scientific 2008 460 pp christian gobel 1 the nature of chinas intergovernmental relations is a hotly debated topic while none. Yongnian zheng de facto federalism in china reforms and dynamics of central local relations series on contemporary china vol 7 new jersey et al world scientific 2008 460 pp christian gobel. The china journal volume 62 previous article next article no access reviews de facto federalism in china reforms and dynamics of central local relations zheng yongnian andre laliberte