Transcript China Today (PowerPoint) China Today.ppt

China Today:
Opportunities and Challenges
Topics
Photos
 A Bit of History
 Basic Facts / Statistics
 Economics
 Human Rights
 Environmental Issues
 Other Issues
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Is China Trying to Carry
Too Heavy A Burden?
Is China Blindly
Driving Into the Future?
China’s Real “Kung fu Panda”
Can the Chinese Blend Traditions
with the Modern World?
Is China Ready for
the Modern World?
Rickshaw school bus in China
Life Under Communism:
Different Newspapers; the Same News
Rickshaw school bus in China
A Bit of History
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Thousands of years of rule by emperors, leading a
society far superior to outside “barbarians”
Only 100 years ago, was ruled by Qing dynasty; had
become very backward and weak
Defeats in the Opium War, Boxer Rebellion, Japanese in
WWII
People’s Republic of China (PRC) established in 1949;
new hope for most Chinese
Mao ruled a totalitarian state until
his death 1976
Emphasis on modernization and economic
development since Mao
Beijing hosted 2008 Olympics
Basic Facts of China Today
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Largest country in the world: 1.3 billion people
– 1/5 of all people live in China
– Mandarin is world’s most widely spoken language
Has more internet users and cell phone users than
any other country
 Possesses the largest military in the world
 Only 20% of its land is arable (can be farmed)
 Huge resources of coal, but not oil
 Produces more solar panels than any other country
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China’s Economy
Now ranks as second largest economy in the world
(measured by GDP); recently overtook Japan
 China’s economy is growing about 6% per year;
most other countries about 2% per year
 U.S. owes China more than $1 trillion
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– U.S. - China trade deficit now $250 billion / year
China exports more than any other country
 Per capita income of $6,000 vs $47,000 in USA
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Human Rights
No democracy
 No freedom of speech
 Widespread censorship of media
 Political dissidents are routinely jailed
without trial
 Minority groups (Tibetans, Muslims, etc.)
are often suppressed
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Chinese Political Dissidents
Chen Guangcheng - Activist
Ai Weiwei - Artist
Liu
Xiaobo
- Writer
China’s Leader Today
Ji Xinping
President since 2013
The Environment
China surpassed the US recently to become the
largest producer of CO2 in the world
 China is building about 1 new coal-burning
electricity plant each week
 Shanghai & Beijing 2 of world’s smoggiest cities
 Rapid growth of cars, factories, electric plants, etc.
mean even more pollution in the future
 Water shortages are a major problem
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CO2 Emissions from Energy
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Bubble Economy
Animal Welfare