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ASIAMS.NET |
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?
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Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. Vote and continue this and related discussions at the new Interactive Area. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:07:51 PM)
It will be a long time before any major systematic changes will take place in China...
The question here ..."will China go on to be stronger in its own direction...or will it encounter the former Soviet Union's fate...?"
I think the real question should be .....which of the possibilities will be the best for the Chinese people...?
China still embodies countless flaws...
I fear that any furthur growth of its political power in the direction that motivates its current government...will only enhance its vulnerabilities.
Progress takes on in many forms.
Yehenala Lan er
Thursday, July 11, 2002 at 15:39:24 (PDT)
It will be the food that keeps the nation together.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at 12:07:29 (PDT)
Chinese imperial food dates back to slave society. Ever since there were emperors and palaces, there has been imperial food, which was served mainly to the emperors, their wives and concubines, and the royal families. Emperors used their power to collect the best delicacies and called upon the best cooks to make delicious food for them. Imperial food represented a dynasty＊s best cuisine.
Although imperial food was made exclusively for the royal family, generals, ministers, and nobility, it was the peasants, herders, and fishermen who provided the raw materials, craftsmen who made the kitchen utensils, the cooking staff who provided the service, civil officials who named the dishes, and protocol officials who drafted the dietary and culinary rules. Imperial food comprised the dietetic culture of the Chinese palaces and it is part of China＊s valuable cultural heritage.
Imperial foods often were improved dishes invented by the common people. The inventors were not princes, dukes, or ministers, but cooks and commoners. The original model for a dish might have been similar to a dish you once prepared for yourself.
Food preparation is impossible without cooks, so emperors in ancient times cherished excellent cooks. The Historical Records by Sima Qian, a famous historian of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220), reports that Yi Yin, the first famous prime minister in known Chinese history, helped Tang (the first ruler of the Shang Dynasty, enthroned 1766 B.C. 每 1760 B.C.) destroy Jie (the last ruler of the Xia Dynasty, enthroned 1818 B.C. 每 1766 B.C.).
Yi Yin had been a famous cook before he became prime minister. Yi Yin, whose original name was Ah Heng, was a slave of the Youxinshi family. He wanted to convince Tang of his good ideas, but lacked a way, so he brought his kitchen utensils with him and won Tang＊s trust by demonstrating his cooking skills. Tang described him as cooking delicious dishes and having the ability to govern the country, so he appointed Yi Yin as his prime minister.
Later cooks also participated in politics. Peng Zu, who is called the founder of Chinese cooking, was chef to Emperor Yao around the beginning of the 21st century B.C. Yi Ya of the Qi State in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. 每 476 B.C.) won the trust of Prince Huan of Qi by being good at cooking and identifying flavors. Shao Kang, the seventh emperor of the Xia Dynasty, had been an official in charge of the kitchen service for Youyushi before the Xia Dynasty was founded.
Zhuan Zhu of the Wu State was an assassin in the late years of the Spring and Autumn Period. In order to help Prince Guang ascend to the throne, he learned the unique skill of ※roasting fish § from a famous chef. Through his cooking skills, he was able to meet Prince Liao of the Wu State and assassinated him.
In the late Shang Dynasty (16th century B.C. 每 11th century B.C.), the government became corrupt and held lavish banquets and feasts in the palace. The following was written of the reign of Emperor Zhou (the last emperor of the Shang Dynasty, enthroned 1154 B.C. 每 1122 B.C.): ※With a pool of wine and a forest of hanging meats, men and women chased each other naked, drinking all night.§ (Records of Kings and Princes) This lavish and licentious lifestyle led to the fall of the Shang Dynasty.
Chinese imperial food originated around the Zhou Dynasty (11th century B.C. 每 476 B.C.). Although China＊s dietetic culture developed and grew prior to the Zhou Dynasty, it truly flourished during the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties (1122 B.C. 每 220).
The Spring and Autumn Period witnessed an unprecedented development in the history of Chinese thinking. Theories from the different schools of thought touched upon the universe, society and life. Pragmatic thinkers studied how food and drink related to the everyday life of the people. As medical science developed, the idea of dietotherapy arose and attention was given to dietetic hygiene.
The History of Chinese Imperial Food (1)
Tuesday, July 09, 2002 at 19:23:35 (PDT)
China will achieve greatness in the coming decades I just hope the Chinese society doesn't copy Hollywood's sex, drug, and money culture. I hope China retain it the culture of respect to the elders and treating people right.
As for Tibetan independence, China's dealing with the the minority Tibetan agitators (most Tibetans are actually good people and not agitators) should be model on how a country deals with its minority. Unless the Chinese where the Indians were wipe out, China has freed the slaves in Tibet. Even in 1995 when Tibetan terrorists setup 6 bombs in a 6 month period, China did not resort to martial law and arresting people on site.
Jack Handley
Friday, July 05, 2002 at 17:16:16 (PDT)
Video Games including Computer equiptment such as Simulators and Flight Simulators are no matter how realistic they seem, are only real on a fashionable level.
Quoting technological facts taken from a video game is ABSURD. Regardless how realistic in-game violence may seem the weapons are merely drawings of factual items.
Children believe that the worlds they see in video games are factual. Fortunately, there arent any intelligent people willing to pay them any attention.
JING CHA
Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 16:33:28 (PDT)
police:
the word is hominem. Ad Hominem is Latin for "to the man." Based on Google's results, you appear to be the only person on the whole internet who spells this word "hommiman." and yes, I know that correcting people's spelling to discredit them is a form of ad hominem attack as well.
T.H. Lien
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 18:05:18 (PDT)
Btw, there was no personal attack. I simply pointed out the bankruptcy of your position.
You can criticize other groups, but when other people point out your groups have ZERO, you get upset and cry "AD HOMINEM" cause u know u got no comeback. At least you could have spelled "AD HOMMIMAN", right, but that'll be expecting too much, instead we feel bad for ya.
gzus in NYC
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 12:55:46 (PDT)
It's clear you have nothing in the bag when someone notes ur roots, Native American & black, so you try to change the subject with an intellectual aside.
You've taken shots at China, when someone takes an easy jab at you and your group your glass chin shatters and u hide behind mommy.
gzus in NYC
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 12:31:52 (PDT)
Too Many Cocky People On Goldsea.com,
I don't make assertions like that lightly on goldsea due to the natural limitation of the board.
Its like an adult realising that they are posting to pre-schooler.
Jing Cha does not reason like a credible scientist. He doesn't act like he's been acclimated to a lifetime of wealth. And he most definitely doesn't behave like a confident accomplished person.
Sure I can accept the probabilty I could be wrong. But it is a very small chance.
UPENN,
The chances that China will fall apart in 5 years is very slim. The society is very stable as is the government in place.
AC Dropout
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 09:25:15 (PDT)
JING CHA,
I thought you were going to ignore me.
If you want to talk about running a business in PRC or ROC, I'll be happy to entertain you.
If you want to talk about planes we are never going to fly, then I will more than happy to bring down the level of my post to your level. Do you like the Xbox or GameCube, Duh?
Your post are getting pretty innane for a person who has a master degree.
For someone who claims to know Chinese culture it is called a "Hong Bao." And some of your guest in China will be insulted if you don't accept it. You should understand the concept of giving face.
AC Dropout
Friday, June 28, 2002 at 09:18:14 (PDT)
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