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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Can China Avoid the Soviet Union's Fate?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:08:46 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?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
SARS is seriously affecting the economy of China in general and Hong Kong in particular. Tourism is at a halt, foreign investors are yanking out their money and are wary of investing in China ever again, considering the horrible way in which the government covered up the whole SARS epidemic until it was too late. Some economists predict that if SARS continues for a few more months it will cut China's growth estimate for the year IN HALF.
SARS- China's downfall
Monday, April 07, 2003 at 07:21:04 (PDT)
[207.183.118.61]
If it did what are you going to do Nick, commit suicide?
Pumpkin Pie
commit Suicide? I am not the Gay chinese actor Leslie Zhang!---------
It's not Leslie zhang is Leslie cheung and he didn't commit sucicide because China is prospering, but knowing you, you just might. Since you already hold so much hatred toward China.
Pumkin Pie
Monday, April 07, 2003 at 07:18:28 (PDT)
[24.239.152.113]
Nicholiservia
#1 is South America which is plagued by poor work ethics and racism.
and #2 is Africa which is plagued by remnants of the British intrusion and turf wars.
I guarrantee you, the day a single leader is able to unite these two countries is the day that China, America and Russia become totally F&%*%D!
Since when were 'South America' and 'Africa' countries? If you can guarantee me that "the day a single leader is able to unite these two countries is the day that China, America and Russia become totally F&%*%D!", I can also guarantee you that the day that a single leader is able to unite East Asia and North America, the two new S.American and Afican superpowers will be F&%*%D even more.
I'm not sure where you got your phd from and i'm not going to bother to look at previous posts to find out. It might come as a shock to you but your theorectical supercontinents will never unite. The Spanish wanted to unite South America but failed because why would any leaders of individual countires want to give up power? Your arguement is that a single leader of one of the countries should rule the whole continent nut in both S.America or Africa, no single country is strong enough to conquer or even dominate enough of it in order to create a supercontinent. And you think that when a single leader unites S.America or Africa, they would be able to take on America immediately? America's military supremency will be too difficult to challenge in the foreseeable future and you would think that they will allow these supercontinents to slowly develop their own weapons to challenge America?
The EU is actually a good example of a modernday supercontinent and it works because of their strong economic ties which act as disincentives for war. But even they have a lot of problems.
I agree that at present, China and Russia are considered superpowers because of their size, but if the definition is based on this alone, then shouldn't Brazil be considered a superpower?
Then we come to the good old british empire which dominate the world for centries and conquered over a third of the world's surface. How did they do it? The last time I looked at my map, Britain was smaller than almost all African and South American countries and it is still a superpower to this day.
DOE
Monday, April 07, 2003 at 05:54:05 (PDT)
[172.180.170.90]
Nick,
That is my point. Racial discrimination is outlawed in the USA. However, as my CNN link shows they will arrest a whole bunch of black people in a town on fake charges. It is also not news to hear that Arab Americans are having their civil rights trampled on in the USA. This doesn't bother you? But the potential rise of a country half a world away does. We are on a decline and you'd rather pay attention to a country on the rise? Another reason the USA is on the decline.
Another personal incident that USA is one a steady decline. Recently I took my mother to the airport. A man in his 50's cut in front of her on line. And I polite said "Sir, this is not the end of the line." His reply, "What do YOU poeple know." I was taken a little a back, but before I could reply another white gentleman in front of us said, "Don't be so rude, the lady was here first." Then a yelling matched ensued and airport security stepped in. Another reason why I prefer charter flights, but mom prefers larger aircrafts. My point being the recent events in the USA are also ruining race relationship in the USA. Grant I'm not your average blue-collar John Q. Public, but my family are not foriegn policy makers for China (PRC) either.
But you have a good point Nick, with this SARS scare maybe I should just cough and sneeze at rude people like yourself and state I just recently came back from Southern China. hahaha.
There is a small difference about the Muslims in China and the USA. Muslim American in the USA are not doing terrorist acts in the USA asking for a seperate country. Muslim Chinese on the other hand have been conducting terrorist activities and trying to create their own country. Now if the USA is so much better than China, why are we taking away the civil rights of Muslim Americans? They people who attacked us were not Muslim Americans.
"Executing Child Offenders and the Mentally Ill" - AC Dropout
"Chinese Propaganda! Reverse Lies!" - Nick
Actually the Child Offender execution occured last year in CA. The Mentally Ill execution is big news in TX last week. Tsk tsk, a PhD holder should keep up with current events. But White Child Offender's are precluded and nominated for Oscar awards.
"In China, drug dealers or "suspected drug dealers" are executed after a 2-5 hour long court appearance in which they try and plead their case against the government which NEVER LOSES! They are lined up and shot innocent or not."
I'm sure the KKK would love to have that excuse to kill all the black men in our prison system. But due to the historical fact of the Opium War you can see why China is extremely harsh on drug offenders.
"China DOES NOT practice equal oppourtunity hiring"
China doesn't have the same level of racial or sexual discrimination like we do in the USA. College adminstion is based on entrance exams. Most government position are also done by examination. Our whole affirmative action culture is based on the fact we have strong ingrained racially and sexually discriminatory culture to begin with.
If FLG is not destructive, why doesn't the USA promote FLG in the USA. The leader of the cult lives in NYC. One of my recent employees from Beijing mother died because she refused medical treatment, due to the fact FLG instructed her that her inner chi could heal all. If it was your mother who died because some nutty cult told her to refuse modern medical treatment, I'm sure you would not keep siting them as some evidence to flaws in China's government. FLG is only evidence that China still needs to root out ignorance in their society.
Also the USA usually publicly burn cult groups on TV to warn the public not to join, like Waco, TX.
"The only revenge the Chinese can get now is by making fun of or insulting the Japanese"
The Chinese now regually storm the Japanese consulate in China just for fun every now and then. Not to mention give Japan the jitters everytime a new market appears.
And the USA has West Nile Disease and Anthrax in our mail system. Your point being?
The last few wars China was involved in, NK and Vietnam. They seem to have done pretty well in stalemating the USA or driving them back.
"I was a teen to and I never sniped a schoolyard filled with babies."
Thank you for bring that up. I forgot to mention one of the unpleasant consequences of the right to bear arms is that teenagers go on drive by shooting and shoot-classmate-in-the-barrel rampages every now and then. I guess when we run out of Terrorist in other countries to shoot, we'll just shoot each other.
In China, kids don't really need to worry about other kids shooting at them.
You're like a janitor in my company asking me for an appointment. hahaha. I'd rather make a mess and watch you pick up after me. In fact your job in the USA government is probably no better than what I have described it to be. Like our lingo developed a decade ago adequately illustrates, "Don't Go Postal."
AC Dropout
Sunday, April 06, 2003 at 22:19:21 (PDT)
[209.122.225.139]
"My buisness there is US government work. Other than that you don't need to know anything else."
Oh really, I don't need to know? Sounds like the tone of Chinese government which often call things state secrets and hide them, right? Yeah right, chauffeuring the consulate general is also a government work.
"guess what country is putting the rest of the West and your whie ass in Jeopardy by selling N Korea weapon technology?--- "
And guess which adminstration sold Iran arms in the mid-80s? --The Reagan's administration.
"First of all, human rights are an intangible thing and are not subject to deterioration. Even though hate crimes and discrimination are PRACTICED, it does not change the fact that America has OUTLAWED these things and thus made them ILLEGAL and subject to penalty."
What???? Then why the two white men who murdered Vincent Chin have yet to spend a day in prison and to pay a penny to compensate Chin's family?
Also, I guess the American Indians must have volunteered to move in those barren reservations then.
"Honestly, there are alot of things I like about China. For instance I like the way that a murderous, totalitarian (Mao) could come in, throw out most foriegn influences, force China to change and unite it under a single party system."
And what were those "foreign influences" doing in China? Weren't they promoting "democracy" in China or just keeping the previous totalitarian puppet Chiang Kiang Shek in power.
FOP
Sunday, April 06, 2003 at 19:07:58 (PDT)
[65.147.94.71]
Dropout
The exact mechanics of the China political system is quite pluralistic. There are reforms for 8 consultant parties. Also local elections are held for local leaders. These lower party leaders than elect the higher party leaders. Like our electorial system leadership always wants a buffer from the masses.
Simpler answer
---China practices racism and totalitarianism. Foriegners aren't allowed to work in China's government. Only Han Zu Chinese are. China's heads of state are corrupt.
For Example. When Zemin came out of office, where did he go? He didn't retire... oh no! He took over head of their military branch and wrote a book that Chinese students are forced to read. AC would know if he wasn't a bannana.
---Why do we call the USA a democracy, when it is not a true democracy? Why is our current President not elected by the people?
The US GOVERNMENT is not a democracy. It is a republic based on democratic principles. President Bush was selected, not elected. The heads of state did not want the Jew that was running along side Gore to become America's Vice President. Study up on the election.
---Like you and your Hummer incident last week I take it.
I love my baby. I guess if you had the body, height, $, and sex appeal I have, you would want to have people looking at you like myself. I enjoy the ability to drive vehicles that cost more than your home. Say what you want but my HUMMER can scale a 25 inch wall which means that if I ever find you in the city, YOUR CAR ISN't gonna survive :-)
Do yourself a favor and continue hiding your identity.
why is the USA so close minded about Chinese medicine? Why is it that Chinese medicine call holistic medicine in the west?
Because Traditional Chinese Medicine is a farce. The reason why Chinese (as well as other Asians) live longer is based upon their unique body chemistry and mechanics. Caucacus mountain dwellers live up to 110-120 years on average. Chinese people EAT Healthier in many cases than Westerners. Chinese medicine however is a joke. I broke a bone there and went to the hospital. Chang Hai Hospital in Shanghai. It is a miracle I survived.
Using tea and soy products is textbook.
Western Medicine is based around money and processed/synthesized medication. There is no money in natural remedies.
WACO TEXAS?
--what about Waco Texas. Did Waco Texas resemble TIAN AN MEN?
America invented PROSPEROUS SOUTH KOREA.
China invented poor North Korea. If China had any dignity it would provide enough relief to North Korea to heal them not give them weapons to force us to go there and kill them.
Your a trator arguing for the losing side.
I guess if you are giving out career advise, I should do the same. I'm sure you will be happy serving burgers to me in this #1 country for many generations to come. I would like to super size it, thanks. lol..
AC Dropout
-There should be a penalty for someone who uses the same stupid joke twice. You sound like a "biter".
NS from Redneckville
Sunday, April 06, 2003 at 17:13:05 (PDT)
[68.161.74.194]
I GUARANTEE you never went and worked in China.
----I work ( read: CURRENTLY HAVE AN OCCUPATION ) in China that I go to every Winter - Spring until I get tired of it. Not only China but, Korea and Japan.
I GUARANTEE that Yu-Ping, Ryomoto Technologies and your ex Japanese boss exist only in your imagination.
---- Ryomoto Technologies is located at 1-10-10
Higashitamagawa, Setagya
Tokyo, 1580084 Japan
Find out their number, call them up.
Call them up and ask for me toughguy.
Yu Ping is more real than your right hand pal.
(Remember I caught you bluffing about the non-existent Lincoln LS and Towncar?)
----You didn't CATCH a thing skippy. I saw Lincolns, and Cadillacs in Shanghai. Not many of them and the ones I saw were OLD MODELS that were rusty and dusty. WHATEVER!
If you are so ignorant that you will sit there and protest that LINCOLN LS' dont exist in China, then you deserve to be a Chinese citizen.
Believe what you want to FOP.
Nicholi from Redneckville
Sunday, April 06, 2003 at 16:55:57 (PDT)
[68.161.74.194]
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