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

GOLDSEA | ASIAMS.NET | ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES

Can China Avoid the Soviet Union's Fate?
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:08:47 PM)

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?

This interactive article is closed to new input.
Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

Asian American Videos

Films & Movies Channel

Humor Channel

Identity Channel

Vocals & Music Channel

Makeup & Hair Channel

Intercultural Channel

CONTACT US | ADVERTISING INFO

© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.

WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

Look at this report from an English news source.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/04/03/china.rights.reut/index.html

It basically states that the USA human rights are deteriorating after the 9/11 incident.

It levies claims that our nation is a "democracy of the rich." I know this is true since I came from a lower middle class background and have climbed my way up to nouveau status. There are definitely more ways to enforce ones rights when one has the resources.

It also claims "Racial discrimination has been on the rise in the United States since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks. Discrimination against Muslims and Arabs is the most serious."
This I know is true since many of my Arab aquaintances have told me of various stories.

Not only that our Patroit Act allows us to torture and extract forced confessions.

We even execute child offenders and the mentally ill.

What a sad decline the empire of the USA is coming to.
AC Dropout
Friday, April 04, 2003 at 08:18:27 (PST) [24.136.115.189]

Get a life,
It must really irk you when a Chinese person surpass you in life that you need to look all the way across the ocean to justify your own status.
I think you should look to South America or Africa soon. Because China is not what you envision her to be at this time.Your ignorance is laughable.
I think you should get an education and a life. It is obvious you did not take advantage of the 1st class education available in America like your Chinese counterparts.
AC Dropout

PAHAHAHAHA!!! Is this best you can do??
Decided to take a cheap shot at me because I said "China is also depended on American economy." Where does China send all those cheap goods to? If China decided to stop sending cheap Chinese goods to the US. Americans could easily acquire those goods from Mexico or India. Also are you going to deny China doesn't try stealing American technology? Not saying only China does it, many countries steal from each other, Japan, Isreal, France all steal American technology. And they are our allies. LOL! But you like to pretend China is self suffiencient economic super power on equal footing with the US. Give me a break! China might be growing rapidly but its far from catching up to US any time soon.
Get a life, really!
Thursday, April 03, 2003 at 19:45:20 (PST) [152.163.188.229]

'While you rant ignorantly about an arrogant and stubborn China,tremendous changes are happening in China every single day and changes in the country are occuring more rapidly than any other place in Asia. Basically, The Chinese are more willing to accept foreign values and culture, compared to Western acceptance of other cultures.'

Why is there more diversity in the West as opposed to China?

Why is China still not a democracy?

Why do Chinese students have to study in Western Insitutions?

Most important, why are women less valued in China than men, hence the large ratio of males to females?

You and the Arrogant Chinese Dropout dude should become the spokespeople for the PRC's tourism industry! LOL...

If u think the West is less tolerant of foreign cultures by the day, maybe u should tell every overseas Chinese to return to China, so they will not suffer persecution.
Law Should Dictate
Thursday, April 03, 2003 at 10:08:39 (PST) [66.212.81.229]

Really I never heard of the Chinese claiming the West stole compass and gun powder technology. You should study up on history and see how much money the West stole from China during the 20th century.

- "A Fool and his money are soon parted"
NS PHD EMP
Thursday, April 03, 2003 at 09:06:04 (PST) [68.161.72.167]

The White Man

I have reason to believe your visits to China were brief and, as I pointed out before, visits only to the richest cities. Beijing, Shanghai and HK.

But, #1 have you actually lived there?
I'm certain your Mandarin or Cantonese is purely on the "tourist" level.
I have lived in China over 3 years doing overseas work. I have had to commute with Chinese and learn to speak the language in order to survive.

#2 What makes me think the US government and US Legislature is better than China's?
-Well or one thing, I already know we have the most advanced and powerful military on Earth.
-China's legislative bodies are unjust and corrupt due to the Cultural Revolution and traditional culture.
-The US government is not as hostile towards citizens who are unhappy with it. AT LEAST in America, we can RALLY against war. Try protesting in a country that has protesters and Falun Gong members killed.

We are eventually going to North Korea to seriously deal with them but, guess what country is putting the rest of the West and your whie ass in Jeopardy by selling N Korea weapon technology?
Good guess, it is CHINA!

You and AC Dropout can keep on talking about how the US has been in bad shape for the last few mnths, years,etc but this is nothing new. Every country goes through this eventually. We had the same problem during the Great Depression and later again in Vietnam.
Our bad times are seperated by wealthy stretches.

If TSJ wants to insult ACD on a Chinese-Chinese level, you have nothing to say about that cause you aren't on their level.

What is even more shocking about you is that you are in league with White Child kidnappers/molesters who live in the projects. Frankly I am disgusted by you and your friend. Who would keep friends like that besides a total scumbag.
NS PHD EMP
Thursday, April 03, 2003 at 08:28:09 (PST) [68.161.72.167]

Kim --

As for me, the guy by the name of LSD, i really don't know him too much nor do i want to and i never read his post so I don't know what the hell he is talking about.

The white man,

Thanks for sharing your information and view of China us. And I know that not all white people are againt China. I have a white friend that I know for a long time who have nothing but good things to say about China. He is somwwhat like you in the way he thinks, he always tell me that China is getting stronger by the minute and will be up there as it is like US.

FOP --

Very insightful facts that you have provided and I enjoy reading them all. I have to say that I totally agree with you.
Man who knows better
Thursday, April 03, 2003 at 07:54:27 (PST) [162.83.148.215]

Yes, this also the reason why China lags other Asian countries not because she is big and poor, but because she is arrogant and stubborn somewhat like the US - refusing to accept foreign values (Western ones in this case).

*While you rant ignorantly about an arrogant and stubborn China,tremendous changes are happening in China every single day and changes in the country are occuring more rapidly than any other place in Asia. Basically, The Chinese are more willing to accept foreign values and culture, compared to Western acceptance of other cultures.
Kim
Thursday, April 03, 2003 at 00:08:11 (PST) [210.187.156.186]

-very simple answer. IT CANNOT---

If it did what are you going to do Nick, commit suicide?

Well, US became a superpower after she had enslaved the blacks for 400 yrs, lynched the blacks or sometimes mexicans at will, imposed Jim Crow law in the South, decimated the American Indians and pushed the rest into barren reservations, locked up the Japanese Americans, extracted the men and assigned them to a segregated battilion for deadly missions and then paid a paltry compensation for their families after the war, excluded the Chinese migrant workers in 1880's.-----

Yes, and I am very surprised to see how US became a super power and be respected by the world at large. LOL
Pumkin Pie
Wednesday, April 02, 2003 at 21:33:33 (PST) [24.239.152.113]

One question I have for NS PHD EMP of Redneckvillw University - Why did he work in China/Asia if he holds so much hatred for the people and the country. Did he get cut out of a deal by his Chinese/Asian employer or fired by them for incompetency?

I don't think he is savvy in Asian history. He doesn't know what China/Asia was like in pre-WWII era. Compared to that era, China/Asia is much better off on their own now.
FOP
Wednesday, April 02, 2003 at 12:57:44 (PST) [65.147.89.216]

"---perhaps AC DROPOUT could tell us all the story about how JACKIE CHAN was nearly sold by his poor family to a British couple when he was a baby.
Imagine that, Jackie would have lost his chance at career and a fabulous life simply cause his parents were poor.
Perhaps Rush Hour would have starred
Jet Li and Chris Tucker."

Hong Kong was run by the British when Jackie was nearly sold. I guessed the Brits must have done a lousy job running the colony and made the population so poor back then.

"Now that Asia is finally seeing outbreaks of diseases and other humanitarian issues that have been left untreated."

It's a curable virus after all. Even American medical experts dismiss the seriousness of the issue. At least Hong Kong never had the same scale of problem with AIDS as the US did, which is still uncurable.
FOP
Wednesday, April 02, 2003 at 12:42:30 (PST) [65.147.89.216]

To the funky bunch,

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/02/national/02TEXA.html

This is a story of how racism allowed a whole town of Black people to be arrested. Corruption exist in our country. Correct these problems before looking at other peoples problems across the ocean.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, April 02, 2003 at 09:36:12 (PST) [24.136.115.189]

NS PHD EMP,

Hahaha you wish you could buy Jackie Chan's ass. Get real he owns half of Hong Kong and runs Hollywood on a whim. He own's Mr. Tucker and Mr. Owen for at least another 2 movies.

Get over it.

Jet Li is not that enamored by Hollywood he turned down Matrix II and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon to do a pure Chinese film Hero and be with his Chinese wife when she was having a baby.

What is your point with your senseless tangents.

"Perhaps your thoughts of corruptability only revolve around barbershops and boatbrothels?"

That's probably the only contact with Chinese people you ever had.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, April 02, 2003 at 09:24:09 (PST) [24.136.115.189]

China is definitely not like the now defunct USSR, in many many aspects. China is definitely not like the US, in most aspects.
China is unique, unlike any other country on earth.
Ivy Leaguer
Wednesday, April 02, 2003 at 07:24:35 (PST) [218.145.25.109]

Yes, this also the reason why China lags other Asian countries not because she is big and poor, but because she is arrogant and stubborn somewhat like the US - refusing to accept foreign values (Western ones in this case). China reminds me of a loner with a superiority complex, who is reluctant to be receptive of others thinking that one's ego (culture) is more important and relevant, than to exchange ideas with others (repressive).

China's arrogance is hilarious.
Its not like she's an economic super power. That's why Western Europe surpassed her few hundred years ago. Her East Asian neighbors passed her last century. China's per capita income is so far below any of her East Asian neighbors.
But despite what AC says, China too is depended on the US market and stolen western technology. China sends so many students to study in American universities, all enrolled in technology based majors. Especially now that she has fewer and fewer terriorist regimes to sell her "silk worm" missles.
Get a life
Tuesday, April 01, 2003 at 17:11:42 (PST) [152.163.188.229]

it's that usual thing,being repeated,again and again.NS PHD EMP,LSD,behind the headlines,we are right, and a whole bunch of these parroting clones keep talking abt Chinese as cold-hearted,immoral demonlike creatures who sell their own children for cold hard cash.China violates human rights. China is poor and destitute.China will never rise up as an economic superpower.China this and that.Geez,get over it.If the Chinese in China reads an occasional news from the Internet or printed media about an American father who rapes,murders and abuses his kids, could they also assume that all Americans are doing the same to their children? I get sick everytime I read abt ignorant caucasians and white-wannabe asians who condemn others for the sake of justifying who's immoral and who's not..Talk abt the protector of human rights invading others,in the guise of "liberating" the "oppressed".Poppycock.Everyone in this world knows the US is the BIGGEST violater of human rights.
Kim
Tuesday, April 01, 2003 at 17:00:34 (PST) [210.187.156.247]

NEWEST COMMENTS | EARLIER COMMENTS