The irony is that if they weren't so scared and determined to keep power by any means necessary, they could address the people's stated grievances (justice, corruption, and equal opportunity) and they would keep power by general consent.

What I can't figure out is why they think they need to retain power. Is it because they are scared of what will happen to them if they don't? Do they feel that China without Communism will be chaos? Or is it just institutional momentum?