In all likelihood the event with the largest political and social impact in the East-Asian region would be the democratization of China. However, it is also evident that China's political reform, like its economic transition, is taking on the form of a cautious and gradual restructuring. Out of pragmatic reasons – allowing society to assist the government in areas where it should not govern, is incapable of governing, or cannot govern – the state has unofficially relaxed its grip over certain social spheres such as women's rights, social welfare and rural poverty.