Can China Avoid the Soviet Union's Fate? | Asian American Issues

CAN CHINA AVOID THE SOVIET UNION'S FATE?

he People's Republic of China likes to compare itself with the United States. Both governments were forged to throw off the imperial yoke. Both are amalgams of many races and nationalities. Both are great continental powers capable of harnessing immense resources to promote national agendas around the world.
     Beijing's bosses cite these parallels to justify China's ambition of returning Taiwan to the fold -- forcibly if necessary -- and violently suppressing movements for Tibetan independence, Moslem separatism and religious tolerance. The party line: "In a few decades we will be as prosperous, unified and democratic as you Americans."
     Unfortunately, some observers see closer parallels to the former Soviet Union.
     Founded in 1910 to free Russian peasants from oppressive landowners and a weak imperial government, the Soviet government quickly and ruthlessly expanded into a superpower that rivaled the United States in military might and reach. On top of nearly 300 million citizens of several dozen captive nationalities, the Soviet Union became the puppetmasters of virtually every Eastern European government. By 1989 it was buckling under the burden of superpower competition. In 1991 the communists lost power to the reformist Yeltsin. The Soviet Union broke apart into Russia and a dozen independent republics. Today Russia is a nation of 150 million struggling to build a capitalist economy from the rubble of the communist meltdown.
     Among the Soviets' earliest converts were Mao Tsetung, Zhou Enlai and other young Chinese intellectuals who saw in communism salvation for the Chinese people from western imperialism and internal corruption. Mao's long struggle against Chiang Kaishek and the Kuomingtang would have ended disasterously without the support of dozens of ethnic minorities in northwestern China who believed his promise of ultimate political autonomy. Their help proved more valuable to Mao than the billions in American aid and direct military assistance to Chiang. By 1949 the Kuomingtang had fled to Taiwan and the PRC ruled the mainland.
     Beijing's bosses have been as ruthless as the Soviets in consolidating territory and suppressing separatist movements. But they have been far more successful in creating a functioning economy. They began capitalist reforms in 1979. By 2001 China's economy had become free enough to enter the World Trade Organization. For the past two decades it has grown at an average annual rate of 9%. Few of China's 1.25 billion go hungry and about 125 million enjoy living standards comparable to Malaysia and the Philippines. By some measure China has just surpassed Japan in GDP and will surpass the U.S. by 2025.
     But China's future as a united nation is far from assured.
     Even assuming peaceful reunification with Taiwan and victory over Tibetan separatists, Beijing's leaders face some big hurdles. They must integrate a billion subsistence-level farmers and workers into the consumer economy of the east coast or face ethnic discontent on a scale that would dwarf America's racial strife of the 1960s. Yet burdening the developed regions could breed separatist sentiment in Guangdong, Fujien, Manchuria and other regions. Over 100 languages and dialects are spoken in China. Long-suppressed religious minorities are becoming better organized thanks to the internet and other communications technology.
     Are China's prospects for staying united more like those of the U.S. or of the former Soviet Union?

(Updated )

We all know it's more likely for the USA to fall apart.

Q: What area of the USA would dominate if the USA fell to pieces?

A: Minnesota and nearby states... because of all the well-armed, really pissed off independently organized militia.

---

Okay, joking aside, let's get on to the *serious* question and answer.

Q: Which provinces or regions would be likely to gain the most advantage if China would break into pieces?

A: HK... because Wong Fei Hung (who goes by the psuedonym of Jet Li) will inspire an army of Shaolin monk warriors to rise up. He will marshal them into an awesome fighting force with new modern kung fu forms, such as: Dance of the Jet Fighter, Tao of the Laser-firing Tank, Way of the Battleship, and much more. Hung will be the military leader of the new HK government.

How is this possible? Sudden advances in nanotechnology, material science, cybernetics, quantum computing, etc., that will be made by Chinese scientists lured by the offer of being with beautiful and famous HK stars and being motivated by them in sexual and loving ways. There will be an everlasting and continual battle among the male and female HK stars for the leadership role of social and entertainment King and Queen. Some of the leaders include Kelly Chen, Cecilia Chung, Sammi Cheng, Ekin Cheng, Aaron Kwok, and Louis Koo.

Li Ka Shing will become the economic leader of the new HK government; under his command, a new Chinese global empire will be created. Don't tell anyone, but he will also be in charge of the secret world-wide Triads. Those Teochews will deal drugs like never before! It's obvious that Shing isn't satisfied with the trifling amount of money and power he currently has; he is a power-hungry animal starving for some real power!

Lee Kuan Yew--lured by an upcoming 20 year old woman, known simply as C, who is newly known as the most beautiful HK pop star--will be the political leader of this new HK government.

Tibet will finally gain its freedom (and Richard Gere and other white Free Tibet will become depressed and commit suicide), but the Dalai Lamai will find looking over his realm boring. He will defect to HK and regain his lost teenage years by partying wildly. For this, he shall be the spiritual leader of HK; through working in his spare time, he becomes the most famous sex advice columnist in the world.

One night, when he goes out karaoking with a group of hot HK girls (he is Da Man!), he will have sudden enlightenment. He becomes endowed with incredible powers. He grants invincibility to Hung in exchange for the finest legion of personal bodyguards. He makes C the Chinese Aphrodite (henceforth, the Greek one will be forgotten in time and known as that Greek C), with accompanying heavenly beauty, grace, charm, and sexual prowess in exchange for one night a week (Yew is more than happy to grant this). C is now known as the HK Goddess of Sex. For Moneybags Shing, he gives limited economic psychic powers in exchange for a yearly allowance the equivalent of the USA's GDP (remember that the U.S. is now dwarfed by the economic, military, and cultural might of HK). Oh, and Shing also gives him a couple of oranges, which the Dalai Lama just loves! After reading Yew's books on Singapore, the Dalai Lama tells Yew how great he is and how right-on his views always were and are, and how great of a man Yew is; less importantly, he grants Yew immortality so that all peoples of the world, and especially HK and Singapore (which has become a sister city to HK and the 2nd greatest city-state in the world after HK), will eternal enjoy the benevolent and lax rule of Yew.

Okay, that's all I can say for now. Don't want to reveal too much...

HK Superstar--you know it!
Thursday, May 09, 2002 at 20:28:02 (PDT)

CAC,

but those warlike monks have probably died out.(You have made a strange joke, haven't you?)
question
Friday, May 03, 2002 at 19:10:53 (PDT)

question,

Definitely Tibet. They have a blooming economy. And the monk warrior are feared throughtout the Middle kingdom.

What area of the USA would dominate if the USA fell to pieces?
CAC
Tuesday, April 30, 2002 at 13:35:46 (PDT)

Which provinces or regions would be likely to gain the most advantage if China would break into pieces?
question
Friday, April 26, 2002 at 17:19:09 (PDT)

China's prospects for staying united is more like the U.S. Here's why: 1) economy is booming, with economy good, why separate? why create ethnic tensions that'll only hinder business? 2) The Great Migration which is happening in China(this comes with economic development, which knows no boundaries) With more movement, people will interact and mix more, which was not the case in the former USSR. 3) Chinese nationalism, which is very strong on the mainland.4) Unlike the former USSR, which was made up of 60% non-Russian peoples, the PRC (china) is made up 90% Han.
ABC
TOHELLandBACK321@aol.com Wednesday, February 20, 2002 at 17:43:18 (PST)

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