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Can China Avoid the Soviet Union's Fate?
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:08:45 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.]
================BEIJING (Reuters) - The World Health Organization voiced concern on Wednesday to Chinese leaders about the spread of the deadly SARS disease and asked for access to investigate outbreaks in Beijing and other infected areas.
WHO doctors, after a week-long probe of the outbreak's origin in the southern province of Guangdong, made the request as they presented a preliminary report and recommendations to Health Minister Zhang Wenkang and Vice Premier Wu Yi.

_____________________________________

=Malaysia Bars Chinese Tourists to Curb SARS Spread
Reuters
Apr 9 2003 7:24AM

KUALA LUMPUR/BEIJING (Reuters) - Malaysia took the draconian step of banning all tourists from mainland China on Wednesday to try to stop the spread of the deadly SARS virus.

-TELL ME something ACD, FOP ,etc How does it feel to know that SARS thing is making the Chinese look bad and putting even more distrust in China's government. Its exactly what I have been saying all along. When I first started on Goldsea, I mentioned the health problems as a reason why China was going to have serious troubles in the future. No more than a year later, all hell breaks loose.

On second thought ACD, I don't wanna meet you. Wouldn't want to catch anything!
NS PHD EMP
   Wednesday, April 09, 2003 at 08:48:18 (PDT)    [68.161.74.194]
FOP

That's why you saw many old, rusty, and dusty Cadillacs and Lincolns. Lincoln LS is a new car of 3 yr old. How come it gets so rusty and dusty so fast? Because it's piece of crap.

-The reason why I saw rusty, dusty American cars in China is for two reasons actually.
#1 The streets are dirty and consisting of broken rocks, dust and wasted food products. It is difficult to have anything nice in a country where the Coal burning produces acid rains and the streets are cramped and over-crowded.
#2 These models were old which means at some point, a few Chinese got up enough money to buy them and that has been their sole vehicle ever since.
Most of the cars I rode in (taxis) had 200,000 miles or more. That much wear on any vehicle will destroy it.

Frankly, I appreciate the new plastic /ABS/compsite material route American cars are taking now adays. Plastics are not bio degrable which means
A) They cannot rust and
B) in an accident they are easier to replace.

I remember the old model trucks which were mostly metal with rotted rear sections and degraded undersides. Not anymore!
The GMC/ Ford cars are mostly plastics right now. The new foriegn cars are taking this route to.

Of course, my new car is made of alot of metal with a plastic interior. I dont usually eat in it so staining it wont be a problem.

I dont need to look atwebsites to see what FORD is selling in China. They dont sell the Expedition or the Excursion there and have limited Explorer/escape models on the streets there (even though I NEVER SAW ONE)
In China mostly I saw Windstars and usually those vans were in the hands of dry cleaner owners.

Of course, this doesn't help the fact that the average Chinese citizen is too poor to afford a FORD vehicle and then pay the ridiculous government taxes on it.

If Ford wants to sell big in China then maybe FORD/LINCOLN and MERCURY should release a go to China and start a new line of mountain bikes...LOL
Nicholiservia@hotmail.com
   Wednesday, April 09, 2003 at 08:43:33 (PDT)    [68.161.74.194]
We are even attacking the free press in the middle east. Does the pillar of democracy have no shame left.
AC Dropout

HUH?? A commie Chinese complaining about lack of human rights and free press??? Hey AC, you don't have to look no further than China itself. hehe!
Now I heard everything!!
No human rights in China!
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 20:35:11 (PDT)    [64.12.96.237]
NS says: DONT TRY IT! ---

Don't try what, Nick?

Don't look for mistakes in my post that don't exist.--

You have a lot of mistakes so why not look for them.
pumkin pie
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 20:30:46 (PDT)    [24.239.152.113]
"What I did say was that if Africa and South AMerica were able to unite their independant states under one government, they would be the most powerful forces on Earth."

Yeah... and if Austrialasia, Europe and Asia unite, they would also be the most powerful forces on Eart.

Let me make it clear, at least in the short run, even in all the countries in the world outside the US, unite, they would not be able to challenge US military might. Also econimcally, virtually every country in the world depends on America. Lastly, as I have already suggested, America is not going to sit back and let two new supercontinents form and challenge its supremacy; its going to do everthing it can in order to stop them catching up.
DOE
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 14:22:16 (PDT)    [172.187.231.253]
What I did say was that if Africa and South AMerica were able to unite their independant states under one government, they would be the most powerful forces on Earth.------

You need to get out of your dreams, Nick. Logically speaking, no way in hell will Africa and South America ever be united under one leader. Even if they were given the chance, they will NOT be the most powerful forces on Earth.

China kidnapps American citizens who practice FG in China. There are over 200 kidnapping claims and most of them lead to dead bodies. --------

Where did you hear this? When I was living in China I didn't hear stories of dead bodies and 200 kidnapping claims. All I heard was a little fuss about FG but nothing serious.

And I'm not against the chinese government outlawing FG because I know FG is not a good thing. You should know better, Nick.

When I was living in China I heard many stories from my Chinese friends and their families claiming that FG was bad, it destory their family, life condition and such and such. And I kinda agreed because it does. I mean, people strave themselves for a spiritual belief. Com-on that is nonsense.

Chinese hiring is not done solely on scores from tests.-----

You gotta be kidding me. You mean just like what my people did to your people with Affirmative Action.
The white man
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 14:18:16 (PDT)    [198.105.45.18]
NS Blindman

I' think you find that you posted

"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!"

DOE says: Dont try to cover up your mistakes, you will just lokk like a bigger fool, (as if that is possible)
DOE
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 14:13:12 (PDT)    [172.187.231.253]
"America invented PROSPEROUS SOUTH KOREA.
China invented poor North Korea. "

America also invented the piss-poor Philippines and supported the totalitarian Chiang Kiang Shek's Kuomingtang government, which was kicked out of the mainland by Mao Tze Tung and his PLA.
FOP
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 12:50:18 (PDT)    [65.147.94.5]
Nick,

If the whole world would realise we would be better off if we all submitted to one global government, then I believe the world could truly progress in a positive manner.

Till then mere competition will cause us to waste resources on senseless conflicts.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 12:46:01 (PDT)    [24.136.115.189]
LSD,

The only plausible conspiracy I can think of is the USA is unable to stop China's growth and cannot go to war with China. So it decides to use germ warfare.

First the USA tries their Postal Anthrax delivery system. Now the USA wants to try American Airlines SARS.

Enough of this speculation. It is just another disease like any other and will run its course in the human population.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 12:41:15 (PDT)    [24.136.115.189]
SARS was passed from animals to humans in the GuangDong province merely due to a lack of proper sanitation. It was the same type of behaviour that brought about the proliferation of Influenza out of the same region. Influenza was passed from domesticated duck to humans in GuangDong.

Visits to China and obverstaions of Chinese people demonstrate a general lack of proper sanitation. Not to be meant as slanderous, however, the biggest qualm against the Chinese from other Asians, and Non-Asians aside, is their poor sense of sanitation.

Keep it mind, the suggestion of thoroughly washing the hands prior to operations reduced patient infections and mortality a hundred-fold, but was laughed at when it was first suggested.

FDA
FDA
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 12:09:31 (PDT)    [216.214.203.227]
How can Chinese people eat healthier than most Westerners? You claim the USA is the #1 country and China is backwatered.

Vegetables and balanced intake of meat and grain are considered the healthiest way for a human to eat. In America, we are mostly obese because we have lavish choices and relaxed lifestyles. The Chinese are healthier than us because they push their bodies to the limit wherin we don't have to.

Your confusing CHINA with the CHINESE. I am not. While China is bakwards and dishoveled, the people are quite the oppossite.

---Post all the letters you want to your lawyer. You have to be alive to get a settlement. I guarrantee you that a 24' tire will leave you quite "finished"/ unable to collect.
Besides, any fool knows that you don't hit someone from the rear, you pull in front of them and slam on the breaks/reverse onto them and then claim they hit you.
-I have a females thank you very much. My Hummer and her skin are the same color.

--People have been worried about travel into Asia for a very long time. A long time ago, they were scared of Malaria and later on the fear was the corrupt government. Later still the fear became AIDS and now the fear is SARS. Not only is China and HK's tourism suffering now but, it will continue still. PRAY that China finds a cure for SARS before 2008 or the Olympic games will be badly bruised by the lack of attendance. Wouldn't it be so tragic if SARS became so powerful that the Olympic games had to be cancelled? Hell, I'm almost afraid to go back. I'm considering going to Nuremburg instead.

According to the latest news, the DEATH TOLL from SARS has reached 110 worldwide.
NS PHD EMP
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 09:17:15 (PDT)    [68.161.74.194]
Learn your own culture before you come at me with a raspberry because I know it better than you could imagine.--

If you really know asian culture; I'm flip, hope you know what that means.

http://www.lesliecheung.com/

Pumkin Pie
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 09:12:15 (PDT)    [24.239.152.113]
Nick,

In Chinese, Leslie is universally known by his Characters, not the romanizations. The romanization is only used to accomodate foriegners in Asia. Know your Chinese before you speak.

I know of two cases in NYC where practioners of FLG refuged treated for STD in Chinatown. When they die I doubt anyone is going to ask them in the West were they FLG members.

Just like the Maoist in China and USA are not killing people either. Do you know where is the only place on the planet where Maoist are killing people?

I can go to 90% of China and both men and woman will tell me USA was one of the invading countries in China that caused a lot of disruption and death in China. Using Open Door Policy and Religious Missionary as fronts in a failed attempt to colonize and divide China.

I can go to the USA and 90% of the Blacks don't even know where their homeland is, or who their ancestors were. And somehow the USA is an expert on human right?

FLG is another crappy mass media ploy against China. What is your fixation with it. Are you a nutty cult member? You found your inner and outer circles yet?

Just like the USA government has lied to us about everything from Agent Orange to Gulf War syndrome. To what in the world are we doing in Iraq kick down doors of innocent civilians and bombing their homes.

So you accept the fact the racist should be allowed to kill people in our country. You are a traitor to the pillar of the USA cause. Shouldn't you be spending more time trying to root out ignorance in our country instead of ranting on about China, which is doing much better than the USA these days.

You know Chinese culture better than us....delusional pipe dream. Mandarin is not the only dialect in China. The dialects are a vistage of the diversity that makes us China. For you to look down upon it, is a clear example of a foriegner who doesn't understand what China is all about.

Because I definitely know American Culture better than you.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 09:10:38 (PDT)    [24.136.115.189]
http://money.cnn.com/2003/04/07/news/economy/sars_economy/index.htm

"US economy safe from SARS"- article from CNN

And while China is doing its best to cover up the disease, who has isolated the virus, and is working on a cure? You guessed it- American doctors.
SARS- China's downfall
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 09:04:58 (PDT)    [207.183.118.61]
pumkin pie, obviously the PRC has pulled the wool over your eyes. It is entirely China's fault that the SARS epidemic has because as widespread as it has. They held back information from the World Health Organization, lied about how many people actually had the disease, and wouldn't allow WHO inspectors into Guangzhou. The Chinese government cares more about making money than spreading a horrible disease around the world. Even if SARS brings down the world's economy, the US can recover- we always do. East Asia can't recover nearly as quickly.
SARS- China's downfall
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 08:57:17 (PDT)    [207.183.118.61]
I know Africa and South America aren't countries, I never said that they were.--

Yes you did say that it was countries. Go back and re-read your post. I think you need glasses too either that or you just have very short memorys.
memory lost is bad thing
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 08:56:58 (PDT)    [24.239.152.113]
There is no CHEUNG in Mandarin Chinese. This name is Cantonese. In China this actor is reffered to as ZHANG and in English he is LESLIE.---

Nick look here and read his name CAREFULLY.

http://member.nifty.ne.jp/viva_gorgor/lindex.html
Pumkin Pie
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 08:41:15 (PDT)    [24.239.152.113]
SARS-

I think you failed to read the news correctly, either that or you just need really thick glasses. Foreign investor aren't yanking out their money and are wary of investing ever again. They know that this situation will be dealt with and solved and once it does it will be back to normal. And economist didn't predict it to be cut in half. Only one percent less from it's 7% growth, if you do the math correctly that comes to 6%. It's no big deal to China because the country is still experiencing the most growth. And the SAR situation will be handle, as it is already is to some degree.
pumkin pie
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 07:49:13 (PDT)    [24.239.152.113]
Even NYC, the center of world economics is laying off 3,400 people. These are signs of bleaker days to come to the city of New York.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/08/nyregion/08FISC.html

We are even attacking the free press in the middle east. Does the pillar of democracy have no shame left.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/08/international/worldspecial/08CND-CAMERAMAN.html

I've even been slowly converting some of my USD into foriegn currency due to the daily slide of the USD as the war progress with no decisive victory in sight.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 07:39:01 (PDT)    [24.136.115.189]
DOE

I know Africa and South America aren't countries, I never said that they were. What I did say was that if Africa and South AMerica were able to unite their independant states under one government, they would be the most powerful forces on Earth.
The US and Canada have that advantage. America also has Alaska. Here you have two Countries making up 25% of Earth's land. America can station weapons in Alaska and thanks to NATO, in areas around Canada and Greenland. Our resources can be shared and travel simplified.

Don't look for mistakes in my post that don't exist.
NS says: DONT TRY IT!
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 07:32:45 (PDT)    [68.161.74.194]
SARS- China's downfall,

Actually it is quite scarely. Many expert believe that SARS could be the straw that brings the world into a global recession. China is the last economic engine keeping the world running right now. Even the USA would be further pushed into an economic depression due to SARS.
AC Dropout
   Tuesday, April 08, 2003 at 07:29:22 (PDT)    [24.136.115.189]
"....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!"

Yeah..Whatever. Is that your best shot? old, rust and dusty? You went to Cuba, not China, in your dream. That's why you saw many old, rusty, and dusty Cadillacs and Lincolns. Lincoln LS is a new car of 3 yr old. How come it gets so rusty and dusty so fast? Because it's piece of crap.

School yourself with some information on what Ford is selling in China with the link below.

http://www.forbes.com/newswire/2003/01/14/rtr845990.html
FOP
   Monday, April 07, 2003 at 12:53:59 (PDT)    [65.146.33.220]
Does anyone here thinks that SARs is part of a larger Chinese conspiracy to eliminate its population and to infect the world especially the US with an uncurable disease?

Maybe someone or some country is trying to frame China.

But anyway, SARs can lead to other things such as a discrimination of Asian Americans and Asians around the world.

If SARs can devastate the Chinese economy, it certainly can gouge the global economy since there are so many Chinese and other Asian groups throughout the world.
LSD
   Monday, April 07, 2003 at 12:36:54 (PDT)    [66.212.81.194]
Nick,

China did not invent NK. The USSR did that. China just inherited the problem.

Boy are you dumb. Foriegners are not allow to work in the USA government either. For top government positions you have to be a citizens, you moron.

When our president retire they also write books that we are forced to digest on our tv when they go on book tours.

So now our republic will discriminate against Jews....Geez is this country a mess or what.

How can Chinese people eat healthier than most Westerners? You claim the USA is the #1 country and China is backwatered. Yet they eat heathier than us? You are one confused individual.

"I love my baby. I guess if you had the body, height, $, ..."

Babies are things to be created with females. But I guess if you can't get a female you can call your car a baby. A sad individual indeed.

Nick are you threating my life with vehicular homicide. I've taken a copy of this post and forwarded it my lawyers already. Keep it up dummy and I'll take your car during the settlement. Play nice, you don't want to see my bad side.
AC Dropout
   Monday, April 07, 2003 at 11:38:04 (PDT)    [24.136.115.189]
Also, I guess the American Indians must have volunteered to move in those barren reservations then.

--the American Indian was wasting millions of acres of land. The American Government used that land to build the most powerful country on earth. Ill take nuclear silos and airports and cities over teepees anyday.

China doesn't have the same level of racial or sexual discrimination like we do in the USA.

--If you really believe this, you are a fool. Tell you what, go to HeBei, Shandong, Hunnan, Tian Jing, Shen Zhen or Guang Dong (country side) and see exactly what a woman's place in society is. Hell, go to 90% of the country and you will see that most women don't even understand the concept of human rights because no one teaches them. The person who told me this when I first stayed in CHina was a Chinese female proffessor who was rejected from US Citizenship.
Don't try and tell me a lie to my face. That is like pissing in a clear plastic bottle and telling me it is Coke. At least disguise your lies like ACDropout and make them sound like facts. Cmon.

- TH US Government allows demonstrations for
Falun Gong, has given funding to FG and has offered to help diplomatic relations in order to free FG captives in China. China kidnapps American citizens who practice FG in China. There are over 200 kidnapping claims and most of them lead to dead bodies.
Where is this Chinese justice you lie to me about.

Chinese hiring is not done solely on scores from tests. The Chinese government goes so far as to
- discriminate against people not of major economic zones such as Shanghai, HK an d Beijing.
-force women to declare their virginity and discriminate against those who are not chaste.
-force Chinese to declare their religious practices if any and you know a FG member is NOT GETTING A JOB.

IF Falun Gong IS disruptive, I challenge you to find me at least 3 reports of Falun Gong members killing themselves in AMERICA, Canda, Australia, England/Britain or Germany.
It should be easy right?

----BTW ACD, FOP ...ED !
Why is there no Falun Gong string on Goldsea? It seems highly ludicrous to leave Falun Gong out considering how much role it plays in South East Asia and how much strain it puts on diplomatic relations. Falun Gong is so importtant that China actually lies to its citizens and say Falun Gong does things like HIJACKING SATELLITES, and then tells Taiwan publicly to force FG to stop. Isn't that so silly?

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?

---maybe you fit in so well that you dont realize this but, VINCENT CHIN was not White. He is therefore not entitled to equal protection under the law in the eyes of the racists. Bannanas don't realize this but, let me clarify it for you. You face the same fate if racists target you.

"It's not Leslie zhang is Leslie cheung and he didn't commit sucicide because China is prospering"

There is no CHEUNG in Mandarin Chinese. This name is Cantonese. In China this actor is reffered to as ZHANG and in English he is LESLIE. Learn your own culture before you come at me with a raspberry because I know it better than you could imagine.
NS knows the truth
   Monday, April 07, 2003 at 10:46:03 (PDT)    [68.161.74.194]
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]

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