Premier Wen Jiabao offers his once-a-year press conference on Friday.

Hundreds of Chinese and foreign journalists will be assembled before him in a huge salon at the Great Hall of the People. I'll be among them.

Like scores of other hacks, I'll be raising my hand to ask a question. Trust me, I won't get picked. The questions all seem to be pre-arranged by the Foreign Ministry. The press people there haven't called me to hear out what question I might have. Some of my colleagues have gotten such calls. Thus, I'll wave my arm fruitlessly, in this televised charade designed to appear spontaneous. Tens of millions of Chinese will be watching it all on TV.

In any case, if you were me, what question would you ask China's premier?