ChinaInside the

Rising Superpower

A Rising SuperpowerSince the reforms in 1979, China has grown

by leaps and bounds.Here is a snapshot of what is happening in

this rising superpower http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/c

hina/aerials/steinmetz-photography

One-Child PolicyIn 1978 China was overcrowded, didn’t have

enough food, and had a low standard of living. The Communist government started the 1 child

per couple plan to help reduce these problemsChina’s one-child policy has created a

generation of only children that numbers 90 million.

119 baby boys are born for every 100 girls.The number of unmarried young men is

predicted to be 30 million in 2020.Many girl babies are killed or abandonedAbortions take place (sometimes forced)

Religion in ChinaConfuncianism

Started in 500 BC in China by a man named ConfuciusIt strives to create balance and harmony. Everyone

must respect laws and behave according to their position. Ruler to subject, husband to wife, father to son, etc.

Still practiced in ChinaAtheism

The belief in no God or Higher BeingCommunist declared that China was their GodLaws have been more relaxed and people are allowed

to practice religion

Religions of China Today41.5%- Nonreligious27.5%- traditional Chinese religions8.5%- Buddhists8.4%- Christians8.2%- Atheists1.5%- Muslim

Minorities91% of Chinese

are ethnic HanThere are 55 non-

Han ethnic groups, which add up to be more than a hundred million citizens (population of Mexico)

Ethnic groups are exempt from the one child policy

Conflict with MinoritiesTibetans

Wish to be independent country

Society based on Buddhist religion

Dalai Lama, the leader, was forced into exile.

World pressure to allow Tibetians to be free.

Uyghur Ethnic group a Turkic Muslim ethnic grouplive mostly in China's northwestern Xinjiang They have, until recently, retained a cultural

identity. In recent years, though, the Chinese government

has come to recognize the valuable resources in Xinjiang, which contains 40 percent of China's coal reserves -- more than a fifth of its natural gas, as well as gold and mineral deposits.

Ethnic Hans have been encouraged to move to this region and now make-up almost 50% of the people

In July Uyghurs and police violently clashed. At least 197 people were killed and about 1,600 were injured, this according to official figure and police arrested thousands of Uyghurs.

Uyghurs think the Chinese are trying to wipe-out their culture.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/12/uygurs/drake-photography

Environmental IssuesChina has the world’s highest number of

annual deaths triggered by air pollutionIn northern China, desertification is wiping

out one million acres of grassland a year- overgrazing and over-farming

The largest river, The Yellow River, no longer reaches the ocean and is very polluted

China recently surpassed the US in carbon dioxide emissionsThey construct 2 midsize coal plants each week

EconomyChina is expected to overtake the US as the

world’s largest economy in ten years.Rise of the middle classhttp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/c

hina/middle-class/olson-photography

Factory to the World70% of the world’s umbrellas are made in China60% of the world’s buttons are made in China72% of US shoes are made in China50% of US kitchen appliances are made in China85% of US artificial Christmas trees are made in China80% of US toys are made in China9% of Chinese goods sent to the US that end up on Wal-

mart’s shelvesOf the unsafe toys recalled in the US in 2007, 100%

were made in ChinaIt takes 6 months of work for a Chinese worker to earn

the cost of a Thomas the Train Engine train set (recalled toy)

Popularity of Cars Second largest car market in the worldPrivate car ownership started in 1994, now 11

million own cars and there are 1,000 additional cars on Beijing roads every day.

Drive-through McDonald’s in 2005-1Drive through McDonald’s in 2008-115By 2025, China is expected to have more cars

than the US

China and OilChina imported 166 million barrels of oil in

1996China imported 1,065 million barrels of oil in

2006

UrbanizationUrban Chinese earn more than three times as

much as those in rural areas, the highest gap since the start if reforms in 1978.

One in 4 residents of Beijing is a migrant from the country.

Health Issues33% of the world’s smokers are in China3 million new smokers each year540 million people exposed to hazardous

amounts of secondhand smokeAverage of 20 cigarettes a man smokes each

dayLarge rates of cancer from pollution

Digital WorldChina has the world’s

largest number of Internet users-220 million- surpassing Web surfers in the US

Cell phones in China have grown from 87 million in 2000 to 432 million today