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China
Physical. China is
located in Eastern Asia, with Mongolia and Russia to the north, the North
Pacific Ocean to the east, Vietnam to the south and India and Pakistan to the
west. Its area is slightly smaller than the US. The country’s climate is diverse
with tropical conditions in the south and sub arctic conditions toward the
north. Mountainous formations and high plateaus cover the land with deserts in
the west and plains, deltas and hills in the east. China’ s wide spectrum of
natural resources includes coal, iron ore, petroleum, and hydropower potential.
People. Almost 1.3
billion people live in China. They speak numerous languages. Mandarin Chinese is
the official language. Ethnically, the largest portion of the Chinese population
is Han Chinese (92%). The remaining 8% includes Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan,
Miao, Manchu, Buyi, Mongol, Korean, and other national minorities. While the
country is officially atheist, the four prominent religions are: Taoism,
Buddhism, Islam and Christianity (1-3 %).
Government.
Although still a one party Communist state, China’s opening toward the world was
dramatic following Mao’s death and the formalization of relationships with the
US in 1979. Despite many problems yet to be solved, including serious human
rights violations, Chinese leadership has actively moved toward modernization
and its role as a major power. The leadership has embraced capitalism and opened
the country to foreign investment. Hu Jintao became the president in 2003 in
another peaceful transfer of power. The premier is Wen Jiabao.
Reports still indicate
that human rights violations continue on a massive scale with torture being used
on political prisoners. Although some religions are permitted, others are
suppressed. In 2000 the Falun Gong, a meditative religion, was banned and its
adherents are systematically arrested and jailed.
Economy. Foreign
investment and loan assistance programs are helping China to have perhaps the
highest GDP growth rates in the region. Recent predictions gave it a 9% growth
rate. In the early years of Communism, collectivized agriculture and heavy
industry were stressed. Now China has established trading relationships with the
US and Japan and is constructing free enterprise zones. Modernization through
upgrading its railway system and the construction of the world’s largest public
works project, Three Gorges Dam (scheduled to be completed by 2009) along with
modernization of its military is in progress. China is a force to be reckoned
with, especially with its entry into the World Trade Association. Although
likely to cause internal adjustments, it will strengthen its position in the
world economy.
Areas of Concern. Balancing modernization with
such environmental concerns as air and water pollution, water shortages,
desertification, acid rain, deforestation and loss of agricultural land is a
difficult problem for China. A poor human rights record and the issue of freedom
for Tibet are other concerns.
China statistics
Geography
Area: 3,705,386 square miles
Capital: Beijing (pop 10,836,000)
Environmental concerns: air and water pollution; water shortages;
desertification; trade in endangered species; acid rain; loss of agricultural
land; deforestation
Geographical features: mostly mountains; high plateaus and deserts in the west;
plains, deltas and hills in the east
Climate: diverse, tropical to subarctic
People.
1,298,847,624 people; Han Chinese (91.9%); remaining 8.1% Zhuang, Uygur, Hui,
Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean and other nationalities
Annual growth rate: 0.57%
Major languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing
dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese),
Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
Religions: officially atheist but Taoism; Buddhism; Islam Christianity; ancestor
worship; animism exist
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 70 years; women, 74 years
Infant mortality: 25.28 deaths per 1000 live births
10% of the population lives in poverty
1 physician per 628 people
HIV/AIDS rate in adults: less than 0.1%
90.9% of adults are literate
Compulsory education (ages): 7-17
Communication and transportation
263,000,000 main telephone lines
94,000,000 Internet users (2004)
840,000 miles of highway
39,390 miles of railroad
507 airfields
11,450,000 motor vehicles
Government
China is a one-party Communist state unified in 221 B.C.; People’s Republic
established on October 1, 1949
President Hu Jintao is head of state and Premier Wen Jiabao is head of
government
1 major political party
Suffrage: universal at 18 in village and urban elections
Military
Military expenditures are 1.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Current disputes: minor border disputes with a few countries; possibly serious
dispute over Spratly and Paracel Islands with several countries
Economy
Currency: yuan
Per capita GDP: $5,000
GDP: $ 6.449 trillion
GDP growth rate: 9.1%
Inflation rate: 1.2%
Labor force: (50%) agricultural; (22%) industry; (28%) services
Resources and industry
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin,
tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead,
zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Agriculture: rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley,
cotton, oilseed, pork, fish
Industry: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and
apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, footwear, toys, food
processing, automobiles, consumer electronics, telecommunications
Exports: $436.1 billion
Imports: $397.4 billion
Suggested web sites
http://www.china.org.cn
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
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