People's Republic of China

Capital, Beijing 39°55′N 116°23′E. Largest city, Shanghai. Official languages, Standard Mandarin1 ( Putonghua) Chinese. Government, Socialist republic2. People'sRepublicofChina 2007SchoolsWikipediaSelection.Relatedsubjects:AsianCountries;Countries     中华人民共和国中華人民共和國ZhōnghuáRénmínGònghéguóPeople'sRepublicofChina Flag NationalEmblem Anthem:YìyǒngjūnJìnxíngqǔ (义勇军进行曲)MarchoftheVolunteers Capital Beijing39°55′N116°23′E Largest city Shanghai Official languages StandardMandarin1(Putonghua)Chinese Government Socialistrepublic2  -President HuJintao  -Premier WenJiabao Establishment    -Chinesecivilization around1700BC   -ImperialChina 221BC   -RepublicanChina October10,1911   -PRCdeclared October1,1949  Area  -Total 9,596,960 km²(3rd3)3,704,4272 sq mi   -Water(%) 2.82 Population  -2006estimate 1,315,844,0004(1st)  -2000census 1,242,612,226  -Density 1402/km²(72nd)3632/sq mi GDP(PPP) 2005estimate  -Total $8.859trillion2 (2nd)  -Percapita $7,2042 (84th) GDP(nominal) 2005estimate  -Total $2.224trillion (4th)  -Percapita $1,709 (110th) HDI  (2006) 0.768 (medium) (81st) Currency RenminbiYuan5,2(CNY) Timezone (UTC+8)  -Summer (DST) notobserved(UTC+8) InternetTLD .cn2 Callingcode +862 1InadditiontoStandardMandarin,Cantoneseisco-officialinboth HongKongand Macau.Englishisco-officialinHongKong(SAR);correspondingly,PortugueseinMacau(SAR).Similarly,severalminoritylanguagesarealsoco-officialwithStandardMandarininminorityareas,viz.UyghurinXinjiang,Mongolian(mainlyCyrillicbutalsoChaharalphabet)inInnerMongolia,TibetaninTibet,andKoreaninYanbian,Jilin.2InformationformainlandChinaonly.HongKong,MacauandterritoriesunderadministrationoftheRepublicofChina(Taiwan,Quemoy,etc)areexcluded.3ArearankisdisputedwiththeU.S.andissometimesranked3rdor4th(see#Geographyandclimate).4Midyear.5(RMB¥) ThePeople'sRepublicofChina,alsoknownasChina,P.R.C.andPRC(SimplifiedChinese:中华人民共和国;TraditionalChinese:中華人民共和國;pinyin:ZhōnghuáRénmínGònghéguólisten ),isastatelocatedmostlyinEastAsia,withasmallerproportionofitsarealocatedinCentralAsia.ThePRChasacoastlineof14,500kilometres(9,010mi),andborders(clockwisefromsouthtonortheast)Vietnam,Laos,Myanmar,India,Bhutan,Nepal,Pakistan,Afghanistan,Tajikistan,Kyrgyzstan,Kazakhstan,Russia,Mongolia,NorthKoreaandlocatedonthewestofEastChinaSea.ThePRCisasocialistrepublic,withitscapitalinBeijing.Atover3.7millionsquaremiles(over9.5millionkm²),thePRCisthethirdorfourthlargestcountrybyarea.China'slandscapeisvariedwithlargelydesertonthenorthandhumidandmountaniousontheeastandlargelydryonthewesternpartofthecountry.Itisalsotheworld'smostpopulousnation,withover1.3billioncitizensandbordersthemostcountriesintheworldwith14independentcountries.ThepresentdaylocationofPRCwasthebirthplaceoftheChinesecivilizationthatdatesbacktoatleast1700BC.ThePRCwasofficiallyfoundedasastateinOctober1,1949,duringtheclosingstagesoftheChineseCivilWarbyitsfirstPresidentMaoZedongalongwiththeConstitutionofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.ThePRCistheworld'sfourthlargesteconomyandsecondlargestatpurchasingpowerparity(whichinbothareasarepredictedtobecomethelargestby2020)andrepresentsChinaasapermanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncilandAPEC.Chinaisthethirdlargestexporterandimporterintheworld.Duetoitslargeandstablepopulation,itsrapidlygrowingeconomy(+9.4%annually)andmilitaryspending(~$84.4billion)andothercapabilities,thePRCisoftenconsideredbyanalystsandcommentatorsasanemergingsuperpower(seealsoChineseCenturyandAsiancentury).Chinaalsohasacolossalappetiteforrawmaterials,consumingapproximatelyonethirdoftheworld'sconcrete,andalmosthalfoftheworld'ssteel. Background Aroundthetimeitwasofficiallyfounded,thepreviousgovernmentofChina,theRepublicofChina(R.O.C),retreatedtotheislandofTaiwan,whereitcurrentlyremains.Sincethen,thePeople'sRepublicofChina(PRC)hasclaimedsovereigntyoverTaiwanandsomenearbyislands,whichareadministeredbytheRepublicofChina(R.O.C),andassertsthatthePRChassupplantedtheROCinitslegitimacytogovernallofChina.TheR.O.ConTaiwanrejectstheseclaims,andadministersitselfasasovereignstatewithademocraticallyelectedgovernmentandpresident.Until1991,TaiwanalsoclaimedtobethesoleleaderofallofChina,aswellasMongolia.Theterm"mainlandChina"issometimesusedtodenotetheareaunderPRCrule,butusuallyexcludesthetwoSpecialAdministrativeRegions:HongKongandMacau.TheCommunistPartyofChina(CPC)hasledthePRCunderaone-partysystemsincethecountry'sestablishmentin1949.Despitethis,nearlyhalfofthePRC'seconomyhasbeenprivatizedinthepastthreedecadesunder"SocialismwithChinesecharacteristics."Duringthe1980s,theseeconomicreformshelpedlifthundredsofmillionsofpeopleoutofpoverty,bringingthepovertyratedowntolessthan9%from33%ofthepopulation.Chinaconsumesathirdoftheworld'ssteel,overhalfoftheworld'sconcreteandthesecondlargestimporterandconsumerofworldoil.TherearecurrentlymoreconstructionprojectsinChinathananyothercountryonearth.However,duetothismixingofmarketandplannedeconomies,thePRCisfacedwithanumberofproblemsassociatedwitheach,includingunemploymentandanincreasingrural/urbanincomegap.Despitetheseshortcomings,greaterprosperityhasledtogrowingChineseinfluenceinglobaleconomic,political,military,scientific,technological,andculturalaffairs.History TheChineseCivilWarendedin1949withtheCommunistPartyofChinaincontrolofthemainland,andtheKuomintangretreatingtoTaiwanandsomeoutlyingislandsofFujian.OnOctober1,1949MaoZedongproclaimedthePeople'sRepublicofChina,declaring"theChinesepeoplehavestoodup."Followingaseriesofdramaticeconomicfailures,likethefamousGreatLeapForward,Maosteppeddownfromhispositionaschairmanin1959,withLiuShaoqi,electedbytheNationalPeople'sCongress,assuccessor.MaostillhadahugeinfluenceovertheParty,butwasremovedfromday-to-daymanagementofeconomicaffairs,whichcameunderthecontrolofamoremoderateleadershipconsistingofLiuShaoqi,DengXiaoping,andotherswhoinitiatedeconomicreforms.In1966,MaoandhisallieslaunchedtheCulturalRevolution,whichisviewedbymanyanalystsandhistoriansasanattempttopurgethemoderateleadershipandstrike-backatMao'srivalsbymobilizingthepopulationinsupportofhisthought.Mao'ssympathizersargueditasanexperimentindirectdemocracyandagenuineattemptatfightingcorruptionandothernegativeinfluenceswithinChinesesociety.However,Mao'spersonalitycultatthetimeandthehierarchicalstructureofthe"RedGuard,"aswellastheeconomicreconstructionneededaftertheseevents,tendtocontradictthisinterpretation.ExtremedisorderfollowedinthewakeoftheCulturalRevolution,butpremierZhouEnlaimediateditsdestructiveimpactsandhelpedthemoderateforcesregaininfluence.AfterMao'sdeathin1976andthearrestoftheGangofFour,DengXiaopingquicklywrestedpowerfromMao'sanointedsuccessorHuaGuofeng.AlthoughDengneverbecametheheadofthePartyorStatehimself,hisinfluencewithinthePartyledthecountrytoeconomicreforms,exemplifiedbyoneofhisfavoritesayings:"Itdoesn'tmatterifacatisblackorwhite,solongasitcatchesmice."TheCommunistPartysubsequentlyloosenedgovernmentalcontroloverpeople'spersonallivesandthecommunesweredisbandedwithmanypeasantsreceivingmultiplelandleases,whichgreatlyincreasedincentivesandagriculturalproduction.ThisturnofeventsmarkedChina'stransitionfromaplannedeconomytoamixedeconomy.ThePRCadopteditscurrentconstitutiononDecember4,1982.Despitemarketreforms,theCommunistPartyofChinaremainsinsolecontrol,requiringtheregistrationandsupervisionofallcivicorganizations.TheCPCsuppressesgroupsthatitclaimsarethreatstosocialstabilityandnationalunity,suchasFalunGongandtheseparatistmovementinTibet.Supportersofthesepoliciesclaimthattheysafeguardstabilityinasocietythatwastornapartbyclassdifferencesandrivalries,hasnotraditionofcivilparticipation,andlimitedruleoflaw.Opponentsclaimthatthesepoliciesseverelycurtailhumanrightsandthattheyhaveresultedinapolicestate,creatinganatmosphereoffearandignorance. TheChineseflagbeforearapidlymodernizingShanghai. In1989thedeathofthepro-reformofficial,HuYaobang,helpedtosparktheTiananmenSquareprotestsof1989,duringwhichstudentsandotherscampaignedfordemocraticreformandfreedom.TheprotestsweresoonputdownonJune4whenPLAtroopsenteredandforciblyclearedthesquare,resultinginhundredsofcasualties.ThiseventwasfamouslyvideotapedandbroughtworldwidecondemnationandsanctionsagainstthePRCgovernment.TheJune4thincidenthasbeenataboosubjectwithinthegovernment,thoughthePartydiddefenditsactionsbysayingthatitwasnecessaryforthecontinuedstabilityandeconomicdevelopmentofthecountry.PresidentJiangZeminandPremierZhuRongji,bothformermayorsofShanghai,ledpost-TiananmenChinainthe1990s,bringingunprecedentedwealthandinternationalstandingtothecountry.UnderJiangZemin'stenyearsofadministration,Chinapulledanestimated150millionpeasantsoutofpovertyandsustainedanaverageannualGDPgrowthrateof11.2%.ThecountryformallyjoinedtheWTOin2001.AlthoughChinaneedseconomicgrowthtospuritsdevelopment,thegovernmenthasbeguntoworrythatrapideconomicgrowthcouldnegativelyimpactthecountry'sresourcesandenvironment.AnotherconcernisthatmanypeoplearenotbenefitingfromChina'seconomicmiracle.Asaresult,thePRC,undercurrentPresidentHuJintaoandPremierWenJiabao,haveinitiatedpoliciestoaddresstheseissues,buttheoutcomeremainstobeseen.FormuchofChina'spopulation,livingstandardshaveseenextremelylargeimprovements,andfreedomcontinuestoexpand,butpoliticalcontrolsremaintight.Governmentandpolitics WhilethePRCisregardedasacommuniststatebymanypoliticalscientists,attemptstocharacterizethenatureofChina'spoliticalstructureintoasingle,simplecategoryaretypicallyseenaslackingsufficientdepthtobesatisfactory.ThePRCgovernmenthasbeenvariouslydescribedasauthoritarian,communist,andsocialist,withheavyrestrictionsremaininginsomeareas,mostnotablyontheinternetandinthepress.Atthesametime,Chinaisslowlybecomingcapitalistinitseconomicsystem.ThecountryismainlyrunbytheCommunistPartyofChina(CPC),butthereareotherpoliticalpartiesinthePRC,referredtoinChinaas"democraticparties"(民主党派),whichparticipateinthePeople'sPoliticalConsultativeConference,whileservingmainlytoendorseCPCpolicies.Therehavebeensomemovestowardpoliticalliberalization,inthatopencontestedelectionsarenowheldatthevillageandtownlevels,andthatlegislatureshaveshownsomeassertivenessfromtimetotime;however,thePartyretainseffectivecontrolovergovernmentalappointments.Thisisbecause,intheabsenceofmeaningfulopposition,theCPCwinsbydefaultinmostelectorates.TheCPChasbeenenforcingitsrulebyclampingdownonpoliticaldissidentswhilesimultaneouslyattemptingtoreducedissentbyimprovingtheeconomyandallowingpublicexpressionofpersonalgrievancessolongastheyarenotorganized.CurrentpoliticalconcernsinChinaincludelesseningthegrowinggapbetweenrichandpoor,andfightingcorruptionwithinthegovernmentleadership.ThesupportthattheCommunistPartyofChinahasamongtheChinesepopulationingeneralisunclearbecausetherearenoconsistentlycontestednationalelections.Also,privateconversationsandanecdotalinformationoftenrevealconflictingviews.However,accordingtoasurveyconductedinHongKong,wherearelativelyhighleveloffreedomisenjoyed,thecurrentCPCleadershavereceivedsubstantialvotesofsupportwhenresidentswereaskedtoranktheirfavouriteChineseleadersfromthemainlandandTaiwan.FormuchofChina'shistory,thestatehadbeenruledbysomeformofcentralizedimperialmonarchy,whichwasfollowedbyachaoticsuccessionoflargelyauthoritarianChineseNationalistgovernmentsaswellaswarlord-heldadministrationssincethelastfewyearsoftheQingDynastyin1912.Foreignrelations HuJintaowithGeorgeW.Bush.Therelationshipbetweentheworld'ssolesuperpowerUnitedStatesandtheemergingsuperpowerstatusofthePRCiscloselywatchedbyinternationalobservers. ThePRCmaintainsdiplomaticrelationswithmostcountriesintheworld.In1971,thePRCreplacedtheRepublicofChinaasthesolerepresentativefor"China"intheUnitedNationsandasoneofthefivepermanentmembersoftheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil.ItisconsideredafoundingmemberoftheUN,thoughthePRCwasnotincontrolofChinaatthetime.(SeeChinaandtheUnitedNations).ThePRCwasalsoaformermemberandleaderoftheNon-AlignedMovement.UndertheOne-Chinapolicy,thePRChasmadeitapreconditiontoestablishingdiplomaticrelationsthattheothercountryacknowledgesitsclaimtoTaiwanandseveranyofficialtieswiththeRepublicofChina(ROC)government.ThegovernmentactivelyopposesforeigntravelsbyformerandpresentTaiwaneseofficials,suchasLeeTeng-huiandChenShui-bian,andotherpoliticallycontroversialfigures,suchasTenzinGyatso,thecurrentDalaiLamaofTibet,inanofficialcontext.ChinahasbeenplayinganincreasingroleincallingforfreetradeareasandsecuritypactsamongstitsAsia-Pacificneighbors.In2004,ChinaproposedanentirelynewEastAsiaSummit(EAS)frameworkasaforumforregionalsecurityissuesthatpointedlyexcludedtheUnitedStates.TheEAS,whichincludesASEANPlusThree,India,AustraliaandNewZealand,helditsinauguralsummitin2005.ChinaisalsoafoundingmemberoftheShanghaiCooperationOrganization(SCO),withRussiaandtheCentralAsianrepublics.MuchofthecurrentforeignpolicyisbasedontheconceptofChina'speacefulrise.However,conflictswithforeigncountrieshaveoccurredatvarioustimesinitsrecenthistory,particularlywiththeUnitedStates;e.g.,theU.S.bombingoftheChineseembassyinBelgradeduringtheKosovoconflictinMay1999andtheU.S.-ChinaspyplaneincidentinApril2001.Also,itsforeignrelationswithmanyotherWesternnationssufferedforatimefollowingtheTiananmenSquareIncidentin1989,sometimesreferredtoastheTiananmenSquareMassacreorJune4thIncident.TherelationshipbetweenChinaandJapanhasbeenstrainedattimesbyJapan'srefusaltoacknowledgeitswar-timepasttothesatisfactionofthePRC,e.g.revisionistcommentsmadebyprominentJapaneseofficials,andinsufficientattentionpaidtotheNanjingMassacreandotheratrocitiescommittedduringWorldWarIIinsomeJapanesehistorytextbooks.AnotherpointofconflictbetweenthetwocountriesisthefrequentvisitsbyJapanesegovernmentofficialstotheYasukuniShrine,whichenshrinesthousandsofWorldWarIIwarcriminals,including14ClassAconvicts.RelationswithChinaandJapanalsohavebeenstrainedbytheAnti-JapaneseRiotsthatoccurredinspringof2005.However,Sino-JapaneserelationshavewarmedconsiderablysinceShinzoAbebecamethenewJapanesePrimeMinisterinSeptember2006.Ajointhistoricalstudytobecompletedby2008ofWWIIatrocitiesiscurrentlybeingconductedbyChinaandJapan.Borderingthemostcountriesintheworld,thePRCisinanumberofinternationalterritorialdisputes.China'sterritorialdisputeshaveledtoseverallocalizedwarsinthelast50years,includingtheSino-IndianWarin1962,theSino-Sovietborderconflictin1969andtheSino-VietnamWarin1979.In2001,thePRCandRussiasignedtheTreatyofGood-NeighborlinessandFriendlyCooperation,whichpavedthewayin2004forRussiatotransferYinlongIslandaswellasonehalfofHeixiaziIslandtoChina,endingalong-standingSino-Russianborderdispute.OtherterritorialdisputesincludeislandsintheEastandSouthChinaSeas,andundefinedordisputedborderswithIndia,TajikstanandNorthKorea.Populationpolicy Withapopulationofover1.3billion,thePRCisveryconcernedaboutitspopulationgrowthandhasattemptedwithmixedresultstoimplementastrictfamilyplanningpolicy.Thegovernment'sgoalisonechildperfamily,withexceptionsforethnicminoritiesandflexibilityinruralareas,whereafamilycanhaveasecondchildifthefirstisagirlorphysicallydisabled.Thegovernment'sgoalistostabilizepopulationgrowthearlyinthe21stcentury,thoughsomecurrentprojectionsestimateapopulationofanywhererangingfrom1.4billionto1.6billionby2025.Thepolicyisresisted,particularlyinruralareas,becauseoftheneedforagriculturallabourandatraditionalpreferenceforboys.Familieswhobreachthepolicyoftenlieduringthecensus.Officialgovernmentpolicyopposesforcedabortionorsterilization,butallegationsofcoercioncontinueaslocalofficials,whoarefacedwithpenaltiesforfailingtocurbpopulationgrowth,mayresorttoforcedabortionorsterilization,ormanipulationofcensusfigures.ThedecreasingreliabilityofPRCpopulationstatisticssincefamilyplanningbeganinthelate1970shasmadeevaluatingtheeffectivenessofthepolicydifficult.EstimatesbyChinesedemographersoftheaveragenumberofchildrenforaChinesewomanvaryfrom1.5to2.0.Thegovernmentisparticularlyconcernedwiththelargeimbalanceinthesexratioatbirth,apparentlytheresultofacombinationoftraditionalpreferenceforboys,familyplanningpressure,andthewideavailabilityofultrasound,whichledtoitsbanforthepurposeofsex-selectiveabortion.Humanrights TheConstitutionofthePeople'sRepublicofChinaguaranteesfreedomofspeech,freedomofthepress,therighttoafairtrial,freedomofreligion,universalsuffrage,andpropertyrights.However,censorshipofpoliticalspeechandinformationisopenlyandroutinelyusedtoprotectwhatthegovernmentconsidersnationalsecurityinterests.Thegovernmenthasapolicyofsuppressingmostprotestsandorganizationsthatitconsidersathreattosocialstabilityandnationalunity,aswasthecasewiththeTiananmenSquareprotestsof1989.However,therearelimitstothemethodsthatthePartyiswillingorabletouseasthemediahavebecomeincreasinglyactiveinpublicizingsocialproblems,andexposingcorruptionandinefficiencyatlowerlevelsofgovernment.ThePartyhasalsobeenratherunsuccessfulatcontrollinginformation,andinsomecaseshashadtochangepoliciesinresponsetopublicoutrage.AlthoughorganizedoppositionagainstthePartyisnotaccepted,demonstrationsoverlocalissuesarefrequentlyandincreasinglytolerated.Attimes,thePRCisfacedwithcriticismfromWesterngovernmentsandNGOsconcerningallegationsofgrosshumanrightsviolations.Thesecriticismsallegethatthereexistedawidespreadpracticeoflengthydetentionswithouttrial,forcedconfessions,torture,mistreatmentofprisoners,aswellasallegationsofrestrictionsonfreedomsofspeech,assembly,association,religion,thepress,andworkers'rights.Furthermore,Chinaleadstheworldincapitalpunishment,accountingforroughly90%oftotaldeath-penaltyexecutionsin2004,TheseissuesremainoneofthedrivingforcesbehindindependencemovementsinTibetandXinjiang.ThePRCgovernmentrespondstothesecriticismsbyarguingthatthenotionofhumanrightsshouldfactorinstandards-of-living.ItviewstheriseinChina'sstandard-of-livingasanindicatorofimprovementinthehumanrightsissue.InReportersWithoutBorders'AnnualWorldPressFreedomIndexof2005,thePRCranked159outof167places.ThisisanindicationthatReportersWithoutBordersconsidersthePRConeofthecountriesintheworldwiththestrictestmediacontrol.Politicaldivisions ThePeople'sRepublicofChinahasadministrativecontrolovertwenty-twoprovinces(省);thegovernmentofthePRCconsidersTáiwān(台湾)tobeitstwenty-thirdprovince.(SeePoliticalstatusofTaiwanformoreinformation).Apartfromprovinces,therearefiveautonomousregions(自治区),eachwithadesignatedminoritygroup;fourmunicipalities(直辖市);andtwoSpecialAdministrativeRegions(特别行政区)thatenjoyconsiderableautonomy.Thetwenty-twoprovinces,fiveautonomousregionsandfourmunicipalitiescanbecollectivelyreferredtoas"mainlandChina",atermwhichusuallyexcludesHongKong,Macau. Province-leveldivisionsofthePeople'sRepublicofChina. ThefollowingarealistofadministrativedivisionsofareasunderthecontrolofthePeople'sRepublicofChina. Provinces（省） Ānhuī(安徽)Fújiàn(福建)Gānsù(甘肃)Guǎngdōng(广东)Guìzhōu(贵州)Hǎinán(海南)Héběi(河北)Hēilóngjiāng(黑龙江)Hénán(河南)Húběi(湖北)Húnán(湖南)Jiāngsū(江苏)Jiāngxī(江西)Jílín(吉林)Liáoníng(辽宁)Qīnghǎi(青海)Shaanxi(Shǎnxī)(陕西)Shāndōng(山东)Shānxī(山西)Sìchuān(四川)(Táiwān)(台湾)Yúnnán(云南)Zhèjiāng(浙江) Autonomousregions（自治区） Guǎngxī(广西壮族自治区)InnerMongolia(NèiMěnggǔ)(内蒙古自治区)Níngxià(宁夏回族自治区)Xīnjiāng(新疆维吾尔自治区)Tibet(Xīzàng)(西藏自治区) Municipalities（直辖市） Běijīng(北京市)Chóngqìng(重庆市)Shànghǎi(上海市)Tiānjīn(天津市) SpecialAdministrativeRegions（特别行政区）  HongKong(Xiānggǎng)(香港特别行政区) Macau(Àomén)(澳门特别行政区) Geographyandclimate GrasslandsofChengde,HebeiProvince,NorthChina. TerraceofricefieldsinYunnanprovince,SouthChina. ThePRCisthelargestcountryinareainEastAsia(excludingRussia)andthethirdlargestintheworldbyland-and-seaarea.(However,duetoarecentchangeinthemethodusedbytheUnitedStatestocalculateitssurfacearea,somecountriesandinternationalorganisationslisttheUnitedStatesasthirdlargest.)Itborders14nations(countedclockwisefromsouth):Vietnam,Laos,Myanmar(Burma),India,Bhutan,Nepal,Pakistan,Afghanistan,Tajikistan,Kyrgyzstan,Kazakhstan,Russia,MongoliaandNorthKorea.TheterritoryofthePRCcontainsalargevarietyoflandscapes.Intheeast,alongtheshoresoftheYellowSeaandtheEastChinaSea,thereareextensiveanddenselypopulatedalluvialplains,whileontheedgesoftheInnerMongolianplateauinthenorth,grasslandscanbeseen.SouthernChinaisdominatedbyhillcountryandlowmountainranges.Inthecentral-eastarethedeltasofChina'stwomajorrivers,theHuangHeandYangtzeRiver(ChangJiang).OthermajorriversincludetheXijiangRiver,Mekong,BrahmaputraandAmur.Tothewest,majormountainranges,notablytheHimalayaswithChina'shighestpointMountEverest,andhighplateausfeatureamongthemorearidlandscapessuchastheTaklamakanandtheGobiDesert.Amajorissueisthecontinuedexpansionofdeserts,particularlytheGobiDesert.Althoughbarriertreelinesplantedsincethe1970shavereducedthefrequencyofsandstorms,prolongeddroughtandpooragriculturalpracticesresultinduststormsplaguingnorthernChinaeachspring,whichthenspreadtootherpartsofEastAsia,includingTaiwan,KoreaandJapan.DustfromthenorthernplainshasbeentrackedtotheWestCoastoftheUnitedStates.Water,erosion,andpollutioncontrolhavebecomeimportantissuesinChina'srelationswithothercountries.Chinahassomerelevantenvironmentalregulations:the1979EnvironmentalProtectionLaw,whichwaslargelymodelledonU.S.legislation.Buttheenvironmentcontinuestodeteriorate.Twelveyearsafterthelaw,onlyoneChinesecitywasmakinganefforttocleanupitswaterdischarges.ThisindicatesthatChinaisabout20yearsbehindtheU.S.scheduleofenvironmentalregulationand20to30yearsbehindEurope.Waterpollutionhasincreasedasanissuealongwithindustrialproduction.TheChinesegovernmenthaschosenadischargestandardmeasuringtheconcentrationofapollutantratherthanthetotalpollutantload(asisdoneintheUSAandmanywesterncountries).AsaresultmanyindustrialdischargersinChinasimplydilutetheeffluentwithriverwatertakenfromthesamesourceasthereceivingwaters.Consequentlytheoutcomehasbeentocreateconsiderablewaterpollutioninmanyofthecountry'srivers.Withregardtocarbonemissions,ChinawasexemptedfromtheKyotoProtocol,andsincethattreatywassigned,Chinahasbecometheworld'snumberoneemitterofcarbongases,addingtothethreatofglobalwarming.KillingelephantsforivoryhasbeenamajorcauseofthedeclineoftheAfricanelephantpopulationsinceatleastthe1970s.MostoftheivoryharvestedisimportedintothePeople'sRepublicofChinaandThailand.Forexample,between1996and2002fortyfivetonnesofivoryintransittoChinawereseizedbyauthorities.QuiterecentlyChinahasagreedtoreduceimportsofivory;howeveraChineseofficialChenJianweihasindicatedthatmanyChinesepeopleareconfusedaboutthelegalityofivoryimports.Military PLArecruittraining.ThePLAhasbeenrapidlymodernizing,butreducingthesizeofitsmilitaryforce. ThePeople'sLiberationArmy(PLA),withits2.25millionactivetroops,iscurrentlythelargestmilitaryintheworld.ThePLAconsistsofanarmy,navy,airforce,andstrategicnuclearforce.TheofficialbudgetofthePLAfor2005is$30billion,possiblyexcludingforeignweaponspurchases,militaryresearchanddevelopment,andthePeople'sArmedPolice,aparamilitaryforce.ThePRC,despitepossessionofnuclearweaponsanddeliverysystems,iswidelyseenbymilitaryresearchersbothwithinandoutsideofChinaashavingonlylimitedpowerprojectioncapability,soitisnotyetconsideredtobeatruesuperpower,thoughitiswidelyregardedasamajorregionalpower.Thisisduetothelimitedeffectivenessofitsnavy,whichhasnoaircraftcarriers(duetoheavyUSrestriction).MuchprogresshasbeenmadeinthelastdecadeandthePRCcontinuestomakeeffortstomodernizeitsmilitary.Ithaspurchasedstate-of-the-artfighterjetsfromRussia,suchastheSu-30s,andhasalsoproduceditsownmodernfighters,specificallytheChineseJ-10sandtheJ-11s.IthasalsoacquiredandimprovedupontheRussianS-300Surface-to-Airmissilesystems,whichareconsideredtobeamongthebestaircraft-interceptingsystemsintheworld.ThePRC'sarmouredandrapid-reactionforceshavebeenupdatedwithenhancedelectronicsandtargetingcapabilities.Inrecentyears,muchattentionhasbeenfocusedonbuildinganavywithblue-watercapability.Economy China'sGDPtrendfrom1952to2005. Beginninginlate1978,theChineseleadershiphasbeenreformingtheeconomyfromaSoviet-stylecentrallyplannedeconomytoamoremarket-orientedeconomythatisstillwithinarigidpoliticalframeworkunderPartycontrol.Thereformsreplacedcollectivizationwithprivatizationoffarmlands,increasedtheresponsibilityoflocalauthoritiesandindustrymanagers,allowedawidevarietyofsmall-scaleenterprisestoflourish,andpromotedforeigninvestment.Pricecontrolswerealsorelaxed.ThesechangesresultedinmainlandChina'sshiftfromaplannedeconomytoamixedeconomy.ChinabecameamemberoftheWorldTradeOrganizationin2001.Thegovernmentemphasizespersonalincomeandconsumptionbyintroducingnewmanagementsystemstohelpincreaseproductivity.Thegovernmentalsofocusesonforeigntradeasamajorvehicleforeconomicgrowth,whichledto5SpecialEconomicZones(SEZ:Shenzhen,Zhuhai,Shantou,Xiamen,HainanProvince)whereinvestmentlawsarerelaxedsoastoattractforeigncapital.Sincethe1990s,SEZsandsimilarconceptshavebeenexpandedtoothermajorChinesecities,includingShanghaiandBeijing.Theresulthasbeena6-foldincreaseofGDPsince1978.Chineseeconomicdevelopmentisamongthefastestintheworld,andhasbeengrowingatanaverageannualGDPrateof9.4%forthepast25years.Attheendof2005,thePRCbecamethefourthlargesteconomyintheworldbyexchangerate,andthesecondlargestintheworldaftertheUnitedStatesbypurchasingpowerparityatUS$8,158trillion.ButwithitslargepopulationthisstillgivesanaverageGDPperpersonofonlyanestimatedUS$7,200,about1/6ththatoftheUnitedStates.However,ChinaisexpectedtosurpasstheUSinallareasofeconomyattheearliestin2020,atthelatestin2050.MainlandChinahasareputationasbeingalow-costmanufacturer,whichcausednotabledisputesinglobalmarkets.ThisislargelybecauseChinesecorporationscanproducemanyproductsfarmorecheaplythanotherpartsofAsiaorLatinAmerica,andbecauseexpensiveproductsproducedindevelopedcountriesliketheUnitedStatesareinlargepartuncompetitivecomparedtoEuropeanorAsiangoods.AnotherfactoristheunfavorableexchangeratebetweentheChineseyuanandtheUnitedStatesdollartowhichitwaspegged.OnJuly21,2005thePeople'sBankofChinaannouncedthatitwouldmovetoafloatingpeg,allowingitscurrencytomoveagainsttheUnitedStatesdollarby0.3%aday,while3%adayagainstothercurrencies.Manyhigh-techAmericancompanieshavedifficultyexportingtoChinaduetoUSfederalgovernmentrestrictions,whichexacerbatedthetradegapbetweenthePRCandtheUS,andperceivedlowqualityofUSgoods.Ontheotherhand,ChinarunsatradedeficitwithTaiwanandSouthKorea,importingmorefromthosenationsthanexports.ChinarunsalargebutdiminishingtradesurpluswithJapan.(SlightdeficitifHongKongisincluded).Withtheeliminationofclothingquotas,Chinastandstotakeoveralargechunkoftheworldwidetextileindustry.PreferentialtaxincentivesarealsogivenasadirectfiscalincentivetomanufactureinChina,whetherforexportorforthelocalmarketof1.3billionpeople.Chinaisattemptingtoharmonizethesystemoftaxesanddutiesitimposesonenterprises,domesticandforeignalike.Asaresult,preferentialtaxanddutypoliciesthatbenefitexportersinspecialeconomiczonesandcoastalcitieshavebeentargetedforrevision.Thereisalargewealthdisparitybetweenthecoastalregionsandtheremainderofthecountry.Tocounterthispotentiallydestabilizingproblem,thegovernmenthasinitiatedtheChinaWesternDevelopmentstrategy(2000),theRevitalizeNortheastChinainitiative(2003),andtheRiseofCentralChinapolicy(2004),whichareallaimedathelpingtheinteriorofChinatocatchup.TherehasbeenasignificantriseintheChinesestandardoflivinginrecentyears.Today,arapidlydeclining10percentoftheChinesepopulationisbelowthepovertyline.98.9%oftheyouthpopulationisliterate,comparedto69.9%inthe1980s.ThelifeexpectancyinChinaisthethirdhighestinEastAsia,afterJapanandSouthKorea.AllofthesestatisticshavebeenattributedpartlytotheChineseeconomy,andtowardthegovernment,whohasearnedmuchpraiseinthe2000s.Scienceandtechnology ThenewlyopenedShanghaiMuseumofScienceandTechnology.High-techindustriesandR&DarebecomingincreasinglyemphasizedintheChineseeconomy. AftertheSino-Sovietsplit,Chinastartedtodevelopitsownindigenousnucleardeterrentanddeliverysystems,successfullydetonatingitsfirstsurfacenucleartestin1964atLopNor.Anaturaloutgrowthofthiswasasatellitelaunchingprogram,whichculminatedin1970withthelaunchingofDongfangHongI,thefirstChinesesatellite.ThismadethePRCthefifthnationtoindependentlylaunchasatellite.In1992,theShenzhoumannedspaceflightprogramwasauthorized.Afterfourtests,Shenzhou5waslaunchedonOctober15,2003,usingaLongMarch2FrocketandcarryingChineseastronautYangLiwei,makingthePRCthethirdcountrytoputahumanbeingintospacethroughitsownendeavors.Withthesuccessfulcompletionofthesecondmannedmission,Shenzhou6inOctober2005,thecountryplanstobuildaChineseSpaceStationinthenearfutureandachievealunarlandinginthenextdecade.TheChinesegovernmentcontinuestoplaceheavyemphasisonresearchanddevelopmentbycreatinggreaterpublicawarenessofinnovation,andreformingfinancialandtaxsystemstopromotegrowthincutting-edgeindustries.PresidentHuJintaoinJanuary2006calledforChinatomakethetransitionfromamanufacturing-basedeconomytoaninnovation-basedone,andthisyear'sNationalPeople'sCongresshasapprovedlargeincreasesinresearchfunding.Controversialareassuchasstem-cellresearchandgenetherapyfaceminimalregulationinChina.Chinaisalsoactivelydevelopingitssoftware,semiconductorandenergyindustries,includingrenewableenergiessuchashydro,windandsolarpower.Inanefforttoreducepollutionfromcoal-burningpowerplants,Chinahasbeenpioneeringthedeploymentofpebblebednuclearreactors,whichruncoolerandsafer,andhavepotentialapplicationsforthehydrogeneconomy.The863ProgramisalsopartofChina'sscienceandtechnologyfocus.ThisprogramledtothedevelopmentoftheGodsoncomputerprocessor.Transportation G030northboundinHebeiprovince.Therearecurrently41,000 km(25,000 mi)ofexpresswaysinChina,halfthatoftheUSandtheworld's2ndlongest. TransportationinthemainlandofthePeople'sRepublicofChinahasimprovedremarkablysincethelate1990saspartofagovernmentefforttolinktheentirenationthroughaseriesofexpresswaysknownastheNationalTrunkHighwaySystem(NTHS).Between2001and2005,morethan25,000 km(16,000 mi)ofexpresswayswerebuiltinChinaforatotalof41,000 km(25,000 mi),secondonlytotheUnitedStates.Privatecarownershipisincreasingatanannualrateof15%,thoughitisstilluncommonduetogovernmentpoliciesthatmakecarownershipexpensive,suchastaxesandtollroads.Airtravelhasincreased,butremainstooexpensiveformost.Longdistancetransportationisstilldominatedbyrailwaysandcharterbussystems.TherailwaysarestillthevitalcarrierinChina,anduntilthisyearsteamlocomotiveswerestillacommonsight.Itisthoughtthatsomearestillinuse,especiallyonindustrialnetworks.CitiessuchasBeijingandShanghaiarebuildingsubwaysorlightrailsystems.HongKonghasoneofthemostdevelopedtransportsystemsintheworld.ShanghaialreadyhasaMaglevsystemconnectingdowntownShanghaitoPudongInternationalAirportDemographics WindowcleanerononeofthousandsofskyscrapersinShanghai.Chinesesocietyhasbeenrapidlymodernizinginthelasttwodecades,spawningthelargesturbanmigrationwithinagenerationinhumanhistory. AsofJuly2006,thereare1,313,973,713peopleinthePRC.About20.8%(male145,461,833;female128,445,739)are14yearsoldoryounger,71.4%(male482,439,115;female455,960,489)arebetween15and64yearsold,and7.7%(male48,562,635;female53,103,902)areover65yearsold.Thepopulationgrowthratefor2006is0.59%.ThePRCofficiallyrecognizes56distinctethnicgroups,thelargestofwhichareHanChinese,whoconstituteabout91.9%ofthetotalpopulation.LargeethnicminoritiesincludetheZhuang(16million),Manchu(10million),Hui(9million),Miao(8million),Uyghur(7million),Yi(7million),Tujia(5.75million),Mongolians(5million),Tibetans(5million),Buyi(3million),andKoreans(2million).Inthepastdecade,China'scitiesexpandedatanaveragerateof10%annually.Thecountry'surbanizationrateincreasedfrom17.4%to41.8%between1978and2005,ascaleunprecedentedinhumanhistory.Caughtbetweenurbanandruralarethe80to120millionmigrantworkerswhoworkpart-timeinthemajorcitiesofChinaandreturnhometothecountrysideperiodicallywiththeirearnings.Today,thePeople'sRepublicofChinahasdozensofmajorcitieswithonemillionormorelong-termresidents,includingthethreeglobalcitiesofBeijing,HongKong,andShanghai.MajorcitiesinChinaplaykeyrolesinnationalandregionalidentity,cultureandeconomics.LargestCities Thefiguresbelowarethe2001estimatesforthetenlargesturbanpopulationswithinadministrativecitylimits;adifferentrankingexistswhenconsideringthetotalmunicipalpopulations(whichincludessuburbanandruralpopulations).Thelargefloatingpopulationsofmigrantworkersmakeconductingcensusesinurbanareasdifficult;thefiguresbelowdonotincludethefloatingpopulation,onlylong-termresidents. Beijing HongKong Rank Cityurbanarea Type/location Population(2001est)millions Density(2001est)perkm² Municipalitylimits(2000census) Region millions density(/km²) 1 Shanghai municipality 9.838 34,700 16.74 2,640 East 2 Beijing municipality 7.441 29,800 13.82 822 North 3 HongKong SAR 6.112 76,200 7.01 6,294 SouthCentral 4 Tianjin municipality 5.095 10,500 10.01 803 North 5 Wuhan Hubeiprovince 4.489 12,950 8.31 947 SouthCentral 6 Guangzhou Guangdongprovince 4.155 11,600 10.15 1,337 SouthCentral 7 Shenyang Liaoningprovince 3.981 9,250 7.20 557 Northeast 8 Chongqing municipality 3.934 23,500 30.90 378 Southwest 9 Nanjing Jiangsuprovince 2.822 13,250 6.40 970 East 10 Harbin Heilongjiangprovince 2.672 11,350 9.35 174 Northeast Education ApublicschoolclassroominthewesternregionofXinjiang. In1986,Chinasetthelong-termgoalofprovidingcompulsorynine-yearbasiceducationtoeverychild.Asof1997,therewere628,840primaryschools,78,642secondaryschoolsand1,020highereducationinstitutionsinthePRC.InFebruary2006,thegovernmentadvanceditsbasiceducationgoalbypledgingtoprovidecompletelyfreenine-yeareducation,includingtextbooksandfees,inthepoorerwesternprovinces.Asof2002,90.9%(male:95.1%;female:86.5%)ofthepopulationoverage15areliterate.ThequalityofChinesecollegesanduniversitiesvariesconsiderablyacrossthecountry.Theconsistentlytop-rankeduniversitiesinmainlandChinaincludeTsinghuaandPekinginBeijing,FudanandShanghaiJiaotongUniversityinShanghai,NanjingUniversityinNanjing,theUniversityofScienceandTechnologyofChinainHefei,WuhanUniversityinWuhan,andZhejiangUniversityinHangzhou.Manyparentsarehighlycommittedtotheirchildren'seducation,ofteninvestinglargeportionsofthefamily'sincomeoneducation.Privatelessonsandrecreationalactivities,suchasinforeignlanguagesormusic,arepopularamongthemiddle-classfamilieswhocanaffordthem.Publichealth TheMinistryofHealth,togetherwithitscounterpartsintheprovincialhealthbureaus,overseesthehealthneedsoftheChinesepopulation.Anemphasisonpublichealthandpreventativetreatmentcharacterizedhealthpolicysincetheearly1950s.Atthattime,thepartystartedthePatrioticHealthCampaign,whichwasaimedatimprovingsanitationandhygiene,aswellasattackingseveraldiseases.Thishasshownmajorresultsasdiseaseslikecholera,typhoid,andscarletfeverwerenearlyeradicated.Witheconomicreformafter1978,thehealthoftheChinesepublicimprovedrapidlyduetobetternutritiondespitethedisappearance,alongwiththePeople'sCommunes,ofmuchofthefreepublichealthservicesprovidedinthecountryside.HealthcareinChinabecamelargelyprivatefee-for-service.By2000,whentheWorldHealthOrganizationmadealargestudyofpublichealthsystemsthroughouttheworld,TheWorldHealthReport2000HealthSystems:ImprovingPerformancetheChinesepublichealthsystemranked144ofthe191UNmemberstatesranked.Thecountry'slifeexpectancyjumpedfromabout32yearsin1950toalmost73yearsin2006,andinfantmortalitywentdownfrom300perthousandinthe1950stoabout23perthousandin2006.Malnutritionasof2002stoodat12percentofthepopulationaccordingtoUnitedNationsFAOsources.Despitesignificantimprovementsinhealthandtheintroductionofwesternstylemedicalfacilities,thePRCcurrentlyhasseveralemergingpublichealthproblems,whichincluderespiratoryproblemsasaresultofpollutionandmillionsofcigarettesmokers,apossiblefutureHIV-AIDSepidemic,andanincreaseinobesityamongurbanyouths.China'slargepopulationandcloselivingquartershasledtosomeseriousdiseaseoutbreaksinrecentyears,suchasthe2002outbreakofSARS(apneumonia-likedisease)whichhassincebeencontained.Culture ColdFairylandconcertinShanghai.ThebandcombinestraditionalChineseinstrumentsandmusicalelementswithrockmusic. Forcenturies,opportunityforeconomicandsocialadvancementinChinacouldbeprovidedbyhighperformanceonimperialexaminations.TheliteraryemphasisoftheexamsaffectedthegeneralperceptionofculturalrefinementinChina,suchastheviewthatcalligraphywasahigherformofartthanpaintingordrama.China'straditionalvalueswerederivedfromvariousversionsofConfucianismandconservatism.Anumberofmoreauthoritarianstrainsofthoughthavealsobeeninfluential,suchasLegalism.Therewasoftenconflictbetweenthephilosophies,suchastheindividualisticSongDynastyneo-Confucians,whobelievedLegalismdepartedfromtheoriginalspiritofConfucianism.ExaminationsandacultureofmeritremaingreatlyvaluedinChinatoday.Inrecentyears,anumberofNewConfucianshaveadvocatedthatdemocraticidealsandhumanrightsarequitecompatiblewithtraditionalConfucian"Asianvalues".ThefirstleadersofthePeople'sRepublicofChinawerebornintheoldsocietybutwereinfluencedbytheMayFourthMovementandreformistideals.TheysoughttochangesometraditionalaspectsofChineseculture,suchasrurallandtenure,sexism,andaConfucianeducation,whilepreservingothers,suchasthefamilystructureandobediencetothestate.Manyobserversbelievethattheperiodfollowing1949isacontinuationoftraditionalChinesedynastichistory,whileotherssaythattheCPC'srulehasdamagedthefoundationsofChineseculture,especiallythroughpoliticalmovementssuchastheCulturalRevolution,wheremanyaspectsoftraditionalculturewerelabeled'regressiveandharmful'or'vestigesoffeudalism'bytheregime.TheyfurtherarguethatmanyimportantaspectsoftraditionalChinesemoralsandculture,suchasConfucianism,Chineseart,literature,andperformingartslikeBeijingopera,werealteredtoconformtogovernmentpoliciesandcommunistpropaganda.TheinstitutionoftheSimplifiedChineseorthographyreformiscontroversialaswell.Today,thePRCgovernmenthasacceptedmuchoftraditionalChinesecultureasanintegralpartofChinesesociety,laudingitasanimportantachievementoftheChinesecivilizationandemphasizingitasvitaltoaChinesenationalidentity.ModernChineseart,literature,music,film,fashionandarchitecturehavebecomeincreasinglyreadytoincorporatevariousdegreesoftraditionalChinesecultureintotheirworks.Religion ThemajorityofChineseidentifythemselvesasnon-religious,whichconstituteabout59%ofthepopulation,orabout767millionpeople.However,religionandritualsplayasignificantpartinthelivesofmany,especiallythetraditionalbeliefsofConfucianismandTaoism.About33%ofthepopulationfollowamixtureofbeliefsusuallyreferredtobystatisticiansas"TraditionalBeliefs"orjust"Other".About6%oftheChinesepopulationareavowedBuddhists,withMahayanaBuddhism(大乘)anditssubsetsPureLand(净土宗)andZen(禅宗)beingthemostwidelypracticed.Withanestimated100millionadherents,Buddhismisthecountry'slargestorganizedreligion.OtherformsofBuddhism,suchasTheravadaBuddhismandTibetanBuddhism,arepracticedlargelybyethnicminoritiesalongthegeographicfringesoftheChinesemainland.Officialfiguresindicatethattherearecurrentlyabout20millionMuslims(mostlyHui),morethan15millionProtestants,and5millionCatholicsinthecountry.FalunGong,developedinthe1990s,hasattractedgreatcontroversyaftertheChinesegovernmentlabeleditamaliciouscultandattemptedtoeradicateit.TheFalunGongitselfdeniesthatitisacultorareligion,butrathera"spiritualpractice."FalunGongclaimsapproximately70-100millionfollowers,anumberwhichisrejectedbyforeignindependentgroupsandtheChinesegovernment,thoughexactnumbersareunknown.Sportsandrecreation Chinahasoneoftheoldestsportingculturesintheworld,spanningthecourseofseveralmillennia.Thereis,infact,evidencethataformoffootballwasfirstplayedinChinaaround1000AD,leadingmanyhistorianstobelievethatthepopularsportoriginatedfromChina.Besidessoccer,someofthemostpopularsportsinthecountryincludemartialarts,tabletennis,badminton,basketball,rugby,andmorerecently,golf.BoardgamessuchasChess,Go(Weiqi),andXiangqi(Chinesechess)arealsocommonlyplayedandhaveorganisedcompetitions.PhysicalfitnessiswidelyemphasizedinChineseculture.Morningexercisesareacommonactivityandoftentimesonecanfindtheelderlypracticingqigonginparksorstudentsdoingstretchesonschoolcampuses.Youngpeopleareespeciallykeenonbasketball,especiallyinurbancentreswithlimitedspaceandgrassareas.TheNBAhasahugefollowingamongChineseyouths,withYaoMingbeingtheidolofmany.The2008SummerOlympics,officiallyknownastheGamesoftheXXIXOlympiad,willbeheldinBeijing,China.Manytraditionalsportsarealsoplayed.ThepopularChinesedragonboatracingoccursduringtheDuanWufestival.InInnerMongolia,sportssuchasMongolian-stylewrestlingandhorseracingarepopular.InTibet,archeryandequestriansportsareapartoftraditionalfestivals.ForeignStereotyping ThefollowingChinesestereotypesofforeignersaretakenfromCultureShock!ChinabyKevinSinclairandIrisWongPo-Yee. Non-Chinese:Pitfulbarbarianswho,iftheybecometroublesomeinChina,canbespeedilykickedoutofthecountry.Americans:Allcrazy,butalsogenerous,friendlypeopleledbytreacherouswarmongeringpoliticians.Iftheyarefemale,probablyhavesexualdesignsoninnocentChineseboys.Ifmale,likewise,exceptonChinesegirlsaswellasboys.Germans:Clever,technicallybrilliantpeople,hardworkingbutoverweightandoftendrunk.French:Flamboyantandfoppish,notseriousbutveryartistic.Vergingonconstantanarchy.British:Devious,tough,ruthless,andbrutal.Nottobetrustedinanydealunlessthereisanobviousreasonforthemtokeeptheirword.Stylishandstoletheideaofteadrinking.Australians:Acceptableasbusinesspartners,generallyarowdy,hard-drinkingpeople.AlikeablebunchoflunaticswhospeakanincomprehensibledialectofEnglish.NewZealanders:PoorcousinstoAustraliansexcepttheygetdrunkfaster.Alwayscomplainingandsayinghoweverythingisbetterbackhome.Canadians:Nice,honest,open,andgenerousfarmerswhocanbetrusted.Easytodobusinesswithbecausetheyareabitsimple.Russians:BrutalthugsitchingtostealmorenorthernterritoryfromChina.Nottobetrusted.ButtheyserveasanimportantlessontotheChineseofwhathappenswhenasuperpowercollapses;thereforemostusefultotheleadership.Africans:Sex-crazed,drug-addictedwomaniserswhoaretalenteddancers.Filipinos:Pooryankeeswhoyodelandpluckguitars.Notseriouspeople.ButtheyarenothreattoChina,soaretolerated.Italians:CulturalrobberswhostoletheideaofnoodlefromChinaandcalleditspaghetti.Smoothandhandsomeromancerswhodrivefastcars.Watchoutforthem.LatinAmericans:VictimsofgraspingAmericanbankers(whichmakesthemgoodguys)andconspiratorswhofloodtheworldwithdrugs(whichmakesthembadguys).Arabs:ConstanttormentorsofwesterncountrieswhokeepwesternbarbariansoccupiedoutsideofChina.Thereforegood.OftenencourageIslamicextremisminXinjiangandNingxia.Thereforemostdangerousanduntrustworthy.Japanese:ArrogantbanditsawaitingopportunitiestorobChina'srichesandcontrolthecountry,astheyhavedonebeforeinWWII. 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