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| and is described in detail in that article. | and is described in detail in that article. | ||
| For millenia China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in many areas of the arts and sciences. But in the first half of the ], the country was beset by major famines, civil unrest, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After ], the Communists led by ] established a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After ], Mao's successor ] committed China to a program of ]. Output quadrupled in the next 20 years and China now has the world's second largest ] when measured at ]. Political controls remain tight despite China's commitment to economic reform. | For millenia China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in many areas of the arts and sciences. But beginning in the 15th century, just before the European era of exploration and expansion began, China pulled back from exploration and became relatively stagnant. After ], China adopted a defensive posture which was relatively unsuccessful although independance was never lost. Nevertheless the country became weaker and weaker in relationship to the European powers and ]. In the first half of the ], the country was beset by major famines, civil unrest, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After ], the Communists led by ] established a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After ], Mao's successor ] committed China to a program of ]. Output quadrupled in the next 20 years and China now has the world's second largest ] when measured at ]. Political controls remain tight despite China's commitment to economic reform. | ||
Revision as of 06:11, 2 August 2002
see also china (porcelain).
China (in simplified Chinese 中国) is a country with a 5,000-year-old civilization in Eastern Asia. The name of the government which administrates the Mainland is the People's Republic of China (PRC, 中華人民共和國), while Taiwan is administered by the Republic of China. The Chinese Civil War between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang ended with the Communist in control of Mainland China in 1949
From that time, a government controlled by the Chinese Communist Party has ruled which while still nominally Communist has gradually moved toward both personal and economic freedom while maintaining elements of totalitarianism with regard to political affairs and religious and ethnic minorities, especially the Falun Gong and Tibet.
Following the civil war the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan where with the support of the United States they ruled under the name Republic of China and was recognized as the legitimate government of China by the United Nations and many Western government until the 1970's. In the 1970's, most major governments switched recognition to the People's Republic of China. The status of Taiwan is still quite controversial and is described in detail in that article.
For millenia China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in many areas of the arts and sciences. But beginning in the 15th century, just before the European era of exploration and expansion began, China pulled back from exploration and became relatively stagnant. After European contact which was rather aggressive, China adopted a defensive posture which was relatively unsuccessful although independance was never lost. Nevertheless the country became weaker and weaker in relationship to the European powers and Japan. In the first half of the 20th century, the country was beset by major famines, civil unrest, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists led by Mao Zedong established a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, Mao's successor Deng Xiaoping committed China to a program of economic reform. Output quadrupled in the next 20 years and China now has the world's second largest GDP when measured at purchasing power parity. Political controls remain tight despite China's commitment to economic reform.
See also Chinese history, Republic of China (Taiwan ROC) Chinese Communist Party, Kuomintang, Chinese Civil War. communism, Chinese law.
External References
From the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the U.S. Department of State website. Partially Wikified.
From the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the U.S. Department of State website. Partially Wikified.
Information on Mainland China.
- History
- Geography
- People
- Government
- Economy
- Art
- Science
- Communications
- Transportation
- Military
- Transnational Issues
see entry on Taiwan