People's Republic of China 5405 225974924 2008-07-16T07:59:06Z Bwfrank 4945009 /* Human rights */ {{pp-semi|small=yes}} <!-- {{pp-dispute}} --> <!-- (DO NOT EDIT THIS HIDDEN COMMENT WITHOUT DISCUSSION ON [[Talk: People's Republic of China]]) ===================================================================== ===================================================================== =========== PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES =========== ===================================================================== ===================================================================== 1. Do not remove "中華人民共和國" from this article, please note that traditional Chinese characters are official in the "Special Administrative Regions" of HONG KONG and MACAU (see Image:COA of Macao.svg for an example), which are part of the PRC. Please also note that the simplified and traditional characters indications in brackets are provided to avoid confusion and to provide an understanding of the difference between TC and SC characters. 2. Traditional Chinese shall remain in the introductory sentence per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style (use of Chinese language)#Simplified and Traditional]] 3. Arguments that other nations do not have their languages labeled in the infobox are not relevant as the scripts in the PRC infobox are not individual or separate languages but all part of one language, Chinese, and both originated from ancient pre-Qin Chinese scripts 4. Please refrain from adding a flagicon in the disambiguation link. (DO NOT EDIT THE ABOVE SECTION WITHOUT DISCUSSION ON [[Talk: People's Republic of China]]) --> {{for|the Chinese civilization|China}} {{redirect|PRC}} {{distinguish|Republic of China (Taiwan)}} {{Infobox Country |native_name = {{lang|zh-Hans|中华人民共和国}} <br><small><small>([[Simplified Chinese character]]s)</small></small><br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|中華人民共和國}}<br/><small><small>([[Traditional Chinese character]]s)</small></small><br/>''Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó'' |conventional_long_name = People's Republic of China |common_name = People's Republic of China |image_flag = Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg |image_coat = Coat of arms of the People's Republic of China.svg |symbol_type = National Emblem |national_motto = |image_map = Location China.svg |national_anthem = "[[March of the Volunteers]]"<br/>({{lang|zh-Hans|义勇军进行曲}}) |official_languages = [[Chinese language|Chinese]] <small><br>([[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]]){{Ref num|language|a|}}</small> |capital = [[Beijing]] |latd=39 |latm=55 |latNS=N |longd=116 |longm=23 |longEW=E |largest_city = [[Shanghai]] |demonym = [[Chinese people|Chinese]] |government_type = [[Single-party state|Single-Party State]], [[socialist state|Socialist republic]]{{Ref num|politics|b|}} |leader_title1 = [[President of the People's Republic of China|President]] |leader_name1 = [[Hu Jintao]] |leader_title2 = [[Premier of the People's Republic of China|Premier]] |leader_name2 = [[Wen Jiabao]] |sovereignty_type = [[Chinese Civil War|Establishment]] |established_event1 = [[People's Republic]] declared |established_date1 = <br/>[[October 1]] [[1949]] |area_footnote ={{Ref num|territory|d|}} or 9,640,821&nbsp;km²{{Ref num|territory|d|}}<br> |area_km2 = 9598086 |area_sq_mi = 3704427 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |area_rank = 3rd / 4th&ndash;disputed |area_magnitude = 1 E12 |percent_water = 2.8{{Ref num|mainland|c|}} |population_estimate = 1,321,851,888{{Ref num|mainland|c|}} <!--UN WPP--> |population_estimate_year = 2007 |population_estimate_rank = 1st |population_census = 1,242,612,226 |population_census_year = 2000 |pop_den_footnote = |population_density_km2 = 140 |population_density_sq_mi = 363 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |population_density_rank = 53rd |GDP_nominal = $3.42 trillion |GDP_nominal_rank = 4th |GDP_nominal_year = 2007 |GDP_nominal_per_capita = $2,800 |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 105th <!---IMF---> |GDP_PPP_year = 2007 |GDP_PPP = $7.043 trillion<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html CIA World Factbook][GDP PPP Rankings]</ref> |GDP_PPP_rank = 2nd |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $5,300<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html CIA World Factbook][GDP PPP Per capita Rankings]</ref> |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 99th |Gini = 47.0<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html CIA World Factbook][Gini rankings]</ref> |Gini_year = 2007 |HDI_year = 2007 |HDI = {{increase}} 0.777 |HDI_rank = 81st |HDI_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font> |currency = [[Renminbi|Yuan]]{{Ref num|mainland|c|}} |currency_code = CNY {{Ref num|mainland|c|}} |time_zone = |utc_offset = +8 |time_zone_DST = not observed |utc_offset_DST = +8 |cctld = [[.cn]]{{Ref num|mainland|c|}} |calling_code = 86 |calling_code_note = {{Ref num|mainland|c|}} |footnotes = a. {{note|language}} [http://www.chinatoday.com/general/a.htm General Information of the People's Republic of China], ChinaToday. Retrieved [[21 February]] [[2007]]. In addition to [[Standard Mandarin]], [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese]] is co-official in both [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]]. [[English language|English]] is co-official in [[Hong Kong]] (SAR); correspondingly, [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] in [[Macau]] (SAR). Similarly, several minority languages are also co-official with Chinese (Mandarin) in minority areas, viz. [[Zhuang language|Zhuang]] in [[Guangxi]], [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]] in [[Xinjiang]], [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]] in the classical alphabet in [[Inner Mongolia]], [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]] in [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]], etc. b. {{note|politics}} [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-71005/China The role of the government, China], Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved on 21-02-2007. c. {{note|mainland}} Information for mainland China only. The [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|Special Administrative Regions]] of the PRC: [[Hong Kong]], [[Macau]] are excluded. In addition, the island territories under the control of the [[Republic of China]], which includes the islands of ([[Taiwan]], [[Kinmen]], and [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]]) are also excluded. d. {{note|territory}} 9,598,086 km² Excludes all disputed territories.<br> 9,640,821 km² Includes PRC-administered area ([[Aksai Chin]] and [[Trans-Karakoram Tract]], both territories claimed by [[India]]), Taiwan is not included. [http://www.chinadaily.net/china/2008-01/24/content_6418067.htm China Daily website] }} {{contains Chinese text}} The '''People's Republic of China''' ({{zh-stp|s={{linktext|中|华|人|民|共|和|国}}|t={{linktext|中|華|人|民|共|和|國}}|p=Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó}} {{Audio|Zh-Zhonghua renmin gongheguo.ogg|listen}}), commonly known as '''China''', is the largest country in [[East Asia]] and [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|the third or fourth largest country in the world.]]<ref>Area rank is disputed with the United States and is either ranked third or fourth. See [[List of countries and outlying territories by area]] for more information.</ref> With a population of over 1.3 billion, it is the [[List of countries by population|most populous country in the world]]. The [[Communist Party of China]] (CPC) has led the PRC under a [[single-party state|single-party system]] since the state's establishment in 1949. The PRC is involved in a long-running dispute over the [[political status of Taiwan]]. The CPC's rival during the [[Chinese Civil War]], the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT), fled to [[Taiwan]] and [[list of islands of the Republic of China|surrounding islands]] after its civil war defeat in 1949, claiming legitimacy over China, [[Mongolia]], and [[Tuva]] while it was the ruling power of the Republic of China (ROC). The term "[[Mainland China]]" is often used to denote the areas under PRC rule, but usually excludes its two [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|Special Administrative Region]]s: [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]]. Because of its vast population, rapidly growing economy, and large research and development investments, China is considered an "[[Potential superpowers|emerging superpower]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/arb/article.php?article=693 |title=Review of "China: The Balance Sheet -- What the World Needs to Know Now About the Emerging Superpower" |accessdate=2007-12-24 |last=Gordon |first=Peter |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=The Asia Review of Books}}</ref><ref name="Miller">{{cite web |url=http://www.stanford.edu/group/sjir/6.1.03_miller.html |title=China an Emerging Superpower? |accessdate=2007-12-24 |last=Miller |first=Lyman |publisher=Stanford Journal of International Relations}}</ref> It has the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|fourth largest economy]] ([[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|second largest]] in terms of [[purchasing power parity]]). [[China and the United Nations|China]] is also a permanent member of the [[United Nations]] [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]] and [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40192-2005Jan26.html China Passes U.S. In Trade With Japan]</ref><ref>[http://www.ifans.go.kr/ICSFiles/afieldfile/2005/07/05/policybrief05_3.pdf Trade Policy Outlook for Second-term Bush Administration] </ref><ref>[http://www.econstrat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=59 China - Taiwan Economic Ties]</ref><ref>[http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=408&issue_id=3322&article_id=2369703 Beijing's Growing Politico-Economic Leverage Over Ulaanbaatar]</ref> Since 1978, China's market-based economic reforms have brought the poverty rate down from 53% in 1981 to 8% by 2001.<ref>[http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/0,,contentMDK:20634060~pagePK:64165401~piPK:64165026~theSitePK:469382,00.html Fighting Poverty: Findings and Lessons from China’s Success] (World Bank). Retrieved [[August 10]] [[2006]].</ref> However, China is now faced with a number of other economic problems, including an aging population, an increasing rural-urban income gap, and rapid environmental degradation.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/world/asia/29china.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Beijing’s Olympic Quest: Turn Smoggy Sky Blue - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6247119.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | China fails environment targets<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> China plays a major role in international trade. The country is the world's largest consumer of steel and concrete, using, respectively, a third and over a half of the world's supply of each.<ref>[http://www.cintrafor.org/CONFERENCE_TAB/China%20Conf%202006/Boardman%202006.pdf Center for International Trade in Forest Products] China’s Building Boom. Retrieved [[December 2]] [[2006]],</ref> Counting all products, China is the third largest importer and the second largest exporter in the world.<ref>[[The World Factbook]], [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2087rank.html Rank Order - Imports].</ref><ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-04/12/content_849420.htm WTO: China Daily]</ref> {{TOClimit|limit=3}} ==History== {{main|History of China|History of the People's Republic of China}} Major combat in the [[Chinese Civil War]] ended in 1949 with the Communist Party of China in control of the mainland, and the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT) retreating to [[Taiwan]] and some outlying islands of [[Fujian]]. On [[October 1]], [[1949]] [[Mao Zedong]] proclaimed the People's Republic of China, declaring "the Chinese people have stood up".<ref>[http://www.isop.ucla.edu/eas/documents/mao490921.htm The Chinese people have stood up]. UCLA Center for East Asian Studies. Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> ''Red China'' was a frequent appellation for the PRC (generally within the [[Western Bloc]]) used from the time of Communist ascendance until the mid-late 1970s with the [[History of the People's Republic of China (1976–1989)#Economic Reform and Opening up|improvement of relations]] between China and the West.<ref> [[Justin Raimondo]]. [http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justinchina1.html|"China and the New Cold War"]. [[17 June]] [[1999]]. Accessed [[19 March]] [[2007]].</ref> Following a series of dramatic economic failures (caused by the [[Great Leap Forward]]), Mao stepped down from his position as chairman in 1959, with [[Liu Shaoqi]] as successor. Mao still had much influence over the Party, but was removed from day-to-day management of economic affairs, which came under the control of Liu Shaoqi and [[Deng Xiaoping]]. In 1966, Mao and his allies launched the [[Cultural Revolution]], which would last until Mao's death a decade later. The Cultural Revolution, motivated by power struggles within the Party and a fear of the [[Soviet Union]], led to a major upheaval in Chinese society. In 1972, at the peak of the [[Sino-Soviet split]], Mao and [[Zhou Enlai]] met [[Richard Nixon]] in Beijing to establish relations with the [[United States]]. In the same year, the PRC was admitted to the [[United Nations]], replacing the [[Republic of China]] for [[China]]'s membership of the [[United Nations]], and permanent membership of the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]]. After Mao's death in 1976 and the arrest of the [[Gang of Four]], blamed for the excesses of the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping quickly wrestled power from Mao's anointed successor [[Hua Guofeng]]. Although Deng never became the head of the Party or State himself, his influence within the Party led the country to economic reforms of significant magnitude. The Communist Party subsequently loosened governmental control over citizens' personal lives and the [[People's commune|communes]] were disbanded with many peasants receiving multiple land leases, which greatly increased incentives and agricultural production. This turn of events marked China's transition from a planned economy to a [[mixed economy]] with an increasingly open market environment, a system termed by many "[[market socialism]]". The PRC adopted its current [[constitution of the People's Republic of China|constitution]] on [[December 4]], [[1982]]. [[Image:prcflagphogel.jpg|thumb|left|Flag of the People's Republic before a modernizing [[Shanghai]].]] In 1989, the death of pro-reform official, [[Hu Yaobang]], helped to spark the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]], during which students and others campaigned for several months for more [[democracy|democratic]] rights and [[freedom of speech]]. However, they were eventually put down on [[June 4]] when [[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] troops and vehicles entered and forcibly cleared the square by opening fire on protesters, resulting in numerous casualties. This event was widely reported and [[Tank Man|famously videotaped]], which brought worldwide condemnation and sanctions against the government. President [[Jiang Zemin]] and Premier [[Zhu Rongji]], both former mayors of [[Shanghai]], led post-Tiananmen China in the 1990s. Under Jiang Zemin's ten years of administration, China's economic performance pulled an estimated 150 million peasants out of poverty and sustained an average annual [[gross domestic product|GDP]] [[economic growth|growth rate]] of 11.2%.<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-07/11/content_244499.htm Nation bucks trend of global poverty] ([[July 11]] [[2003]]). China Daily.</ref><ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/english/200003/01/eng20000301X115.html China's Average Economic Growth in 90s Ranked 1st in World] ([[March 1]] [[2000]]). People's Daily Online.</ref> The country formally joined the [[World Trade Organization]] in 2001. Although China needs economic growth to spur its development, the government has begun to worry that rapid economic growth has negatively impacted the country's resources and environment. Another concern is that certain sectors of society are not sufficiently benefiting from China's economic development. As a result, under current President [[Hu Jintao]] and Premier [[Wen Jiabao]], the PRC have initiated policies to address these issues of equitable distribution of resources, but the outcome remains to be seen.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4913622.stm "China worried over pace of growth"]. BBC. Accessed [[16 April]] [[2006]].</ref> For much of China's population, [[standard of living|living standards]] have seen extremely large improvements, and freedom continues to expand, but political controls remain tight. ==Politics== <!--This section is on the politics of [[Mainland China]]--> {{main|Politics of the People's Republic of China}}<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series--> [[Image:PRCFounding.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mao Zedong]] proclaiming the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949.]] While the PRC is regarded as a [[Communist state]] by many [[Political science|political scientists]], simple characterizations of China's political [[structure]] since the 1980s are no longer possible.<ref>Boum, Aomar (1999). [http://jpe.library.arizona.edu/volume_6/goodmanonoivol6.htm Journal of Political Ecology: Case Studies in History and Society]. Retrieved [[May 5]] [[2007]].</ref> The PRC government has been variously described as [[authoritarianism|authoritarian]], [[communism|communist]], and [[socialism|socialist]], with heavy restrictions remaining in many areas, most notably in [[Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China|the Internet]] and in [[freedom of the press|the press]], [[freedom of assembly]], [[reproductive rights]], and [[freedom of religion]]. However, compared to its closed door policies until the mid-1970s, the liberalization of the PRC is such that the administrative climate is much less restrictive than before, though the PRC is still far from the full-fledged [[democracy]] practiced in most of [[Europe]] or [[North America]], according to most observers internationally. The country is ruled under the [[Constitution of the People's Republic of China]]. Its incumbent President is [[Hu Jintao]] and its [[premier]] is [[Wen Jiabao]]. The country is run by the [[Communist Party of China]] (CPC), which is guaranteed power by the Constitution.<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/constitution/constitution.html Constitution Of The People'S Republic Of China<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> There are other political parties in the PRC, referred to in China as "democratic parties", which participate in the [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference|People's Political Consultative Conference]] and the [[National People's Congress]]. There have been some moves toward political liberalization, in that open contested elections are now held at the village and town levels,<ref name="poll">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/08/content_288018.htm|title=Beijingers Get Greater Poll Choices|accessdate = 2007-02-18|publisher=China Daily|year=2003|author=Unknown Author|format=Web}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aib775/aib775n.pdf "Does China’s Land-Tenure System Discourage Structural Adjustment?" by Bryan Lohmar and Agapi Somwaru]. [[1 May]] [[2006]]. USDA Economic Research Service. ''URL accessed [[3 May]] [[2006]].''</ref> and that legislatures have shown some assertiveness from time to time. However, the Party retains effective control over governmental appointments: in the absence of meaningful opposition, the CPC wins by default most of the time. Political concerns in China include lessening the growing gap between rich and poor and fighting corruption within the government leadership.<ref>[http://www.mindfully.org/WTO/China-Wealth-Gap11may02.htm China sounds alarm over fast-growing gap between rich and poor]. Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> The level of support that the Communist Party of China has among the Chinese population in general is unclear since there are no consistently contested national elections.<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/08/content_288018.htm Beijingers get greater poll choices<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> According to a survey conducted in Hong Kong, where a relatively high level of freedom is enjoyed, the current CPC leaders have received substantial votes of support when residents were asked to rank their favorite leaders from the PRC and Taiwan.<ref>[http://hkupop.hku.hk/english/release/release361.html University of Hong Kong releases the latest ratings of the top 10 political figures in Mainland China and Taiwan as well as people's appraisal of past Chinese leaders"]. [[4 April]] [[2006]]. accessed [[May 3]], [[2006]].</ref> {{seealso|Government of the People's Republic of China|Chinese nationalism|Propaganda in the People's Republic of China|Chinese law|Politics of the Republic of China|Neoconservatism in China|Politics of Hong Kong|Politics of Macau}} ===Foreign relations=== {{main|Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China}} [[Image:Hu Jintao Bush.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hu Jintao]] with [[George W. Bush]].]] The People's Republic of China maintains diplomatic relations with most major countries in the world. [[Sweden]] was the first western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic on the ninth of May 1950.<ref>[http://www.chinaembassy.se/eng/zrgx/t100751.htm China and Sweden<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 1971, the PRC replaced the [[Republic of China]] as the sole representative of [[China]] in the [[United Nations]] and as one of the five permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council]].<ref>Eddy Chang ([[August 22]] [[2004]]). [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2004/08/22/2003199768 Perseverance will pay off at the UN] The Taipei Times.</ref> It is considered a founding member of the UN, though the PRC was not in control of China at the time. The PRC was also a former member and leader of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]]. Under its interpretation of the [[One-China policy]], the PRC has made it a precondition to establishing diplomatic relations that the other country acknowledges its claim to [[Taiwan]] and severs official ties with the [[Republic of China]] (ROC) government. The government opposes publicized foreign travels by former and present Taiwanese officials promoting [[Taiwan independence|Taiwan's independence]], such as [[Lee Teng-hui]] and [[Chen Shui-bian]], and other politically controversial figures, such as [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Tenzin Gyatso]], the [[Dalai Lama]] of [[Tibetan Buddhism]], in an official context. China has been playing an increasing role in calling for [[free trade area]]s and security pacts amongst its Asia-Pacific neighbors. In 2004, China proposed an entirely new [[East Asia Summit]] (EAS) framework as a forum for regional security issues that pointedly excluded the United States.<ref>Dillon, Dana and John Tkacik Jr, [http://www.policyreview.org/134/dillon.html "China’s Quest for Asia"], ''Policy Review'', December 2005 and January 2006, Issue No. 134. Accessed [[22 April]] [[2006]].</ref> The EAS, which includes [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three|ASEAN Plus Three]], [[India]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], held its inaugural summit in 2005. China is also a founding member of the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]] (SCO), with [[Russia]] and the [[Central Asia]]n republics. Much of the current foreign policy is based on the concept of [[China's peaceful rise]]. Conflicts with foreign countries have occurred at times in its recent history, particularly with the [[United States]]; e.g., the [[NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade|U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy]] in [[Belgrade]] during the [[Kosovo War|Kosovo conflict]] in May 1999 and the [[Hainan Island incident|U.S.-China spy plane incident]] in April 2001. Its foreign relations with many Western nations suffered for a time following the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]], though they have since recovered. The relationship between [[Sino-Japanese relations|China and Japan]] has been strained at times by Japan's refusal to acknowledge its [[World War II|war-time]] past to the satisfaction of the PRC, e.g. [[Historical revisionism|revisionist]] comments made by prominent Japanese officials and in some [[Japanese history textbook controversies|Japanese history textbooks]]. Another point of conflict between the two countries is the frequent visits by Japanese government officials to the [[Yasukuni Shrine]]. However, Sino-Japanese relations have warmed considerably since [[Shinzo Abe]] became the new Japanese Prime Minister in September 2006. A joint historical study to be completed by 2008 of WWII atrocities is being conducted by China and Japan. Equally bordering the most countries in the world alongside [[Russia]], the PRC was in a number of [[Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China#International territorial disputes|international territorial disputes]]. China's territorial disputes have led to localized wars in the last 50 years, including the [[Sino-Indian War]] in 1962, the [[Sino-Soviet border conflict]] in 1969 and the [[Sino-Vietnamese War]] in 1979. In 2001, the PRC and [[Russia]] signed the [[2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship|Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship]],<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-03/21/content_548330.htm Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation] ([[March 21]] [[2006]]). Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> which paved the way in 2004 for Russia to transfer [[Yinlong Island]] as well as one-half of [[Heixiazi]] to China, ending a long-standing [[Sino-Russian relations|Sino-Russian]] border dispute. Other territorial disputes include islands in the [[East China Sea|East]] and [[South China Sea]]s, and undefined or disputed borders with [[India]], [[Tajikistan]] and [[North Korea]]. While accompanying a rapid economic rise, the PRC since the 1990s seeks to maintain a policy of quiet diplomacy with its neighbors. Steadying its economic growth and participating in regional organizations and cultivating bi-lateral relations will ease suspicion over China's burgeoning military capabilities. The PRC has started a policy of wooing [[Africa]]n nations for trade and bilateral co-operations.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0330/p01s01-woaf.html. Abraham McLaughlin, "A rising China counters US clout in Africa", ''The Christian Science Monitor'', March 30, 2005 edition. [http://www.cfr.org/publication/8436/ Princeton N. Lyman. "China’s Rising Role in Africa", July 21, 2005 Council of Foreign Relations]. Retrieved [[June 26]] [[2007]].</ref> ===Population policy=== {{main|One-child policy}} [[Image:China-demography.png|thumb|Population of China from 1961-2003]] With a population of over 1.3 billion, the PRC is very concerned about its [[population growth]] and has attempted, with mixed results,<ref>[http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/11/1171 The New England Journal of Medicine, September 2005]</ref> to implement a strict [[family planning]] policy. The government's goal is [[one-child policy|one child per family]], with exceptions for ethnic minorities and flexibility in rural areas, where a family can have a second child if the first is a girl or physically disabled. The government's goal is to stabilize population growth early in the twenty-first century, though some projections estimate a population of anywhere ranging from 1.4 billion to 1.6 billion by 2025. Hence the country's family planning minister has indicated that China will maintain its one-child policy until at least the year 2018.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/10/china.onechild/index.html China to keep one-child policy - CNN.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The policy is resisted, particularly in rural areas, because of the need for [[agriculture|agricultural]] labor and a traditional preference for boys. Families who breach the policy often lie during the [[census]].<ref>[http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/fertl2b.htm http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/fertl2b.htm, ]</ref> Official government policy opposes [[Compulsory sterilization|forced sterilization]] or [[abortion]], but allegations of coercion continue as local officials, who are faced with penalties for failing to curb population growth, may resort to forced abortion or sterilization, or manipulation of census figures. The decreasing reliability of PRC population statistics since family planning began in the late 1970s has made evaluating the effectiveness of the policy difficult.<ref>[http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/fertl2b.htm http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/fertl2b.htm]</ref> Estimates by Chinese demographers of the [[Total fertility rate|average number of children for a Chinese woman]] vary from 1.5 to 2.0. The government is particularly concerned with the large imbalance in the [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] at birth, apparently the result of a combination of traditional preference for boys, and family planning pressure, which led to the ban of using [[ultrasound]] devices for the purpose of preventing [[sex-selective abortion and infanticide|sex-selective abortion]]. ===Human rights=== {{main|Human rights in the People's Republic of China}} [[Image:Tianasquare.jpg|right|thumb|[[Tank Man|The Unknown Rebel]] - This famous photo, taken on 5 June 1989 by photographer [[Jeff Widener]], depicts a lone protester whose actions halted a column of advancing tanks until he was pulled into the crowd. Both intellectuals and labour activists have had a turbulent history of protests, sometimes violent, in the PRC.]] While economic and social controls have been greatly relaxed in China since the 1960s, political freedom is still tightly controlled by both central and local governments. The [[Constitution of the People's Republic of China]] states that the "fundamental rights" of citizens include [[freedom of speech]], [[freedom of the press]], the [[right to a fair trial]], [[freedom of religion]], [[universal suffrage]], and [[Property|property rights]]. However, these provisions do not afford significant protection against criminal prosecution by the State. [[Censorship in the People's Republic of China|Censorship]] of political speech and information is openly and routinely used to silence criticism of government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party.<ref name=right>[http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sdc/hr_facts.html China Human Rights Fact Sheet] (March 1995). Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> In particular, press control is notoriously tight: the controversial organization [[Reporters Without Borders]] considers the PRC one of the least free countries in the world for the press.<ref name = "rsf.org-554">[http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554 Reporters sans frontières - Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index - 2005<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The government has a policy of limiting some protests and organizations that it considers a threat to social stability and national unity, as was the case with the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]]. The Communist Party has had mixed success at controlling information: a very strong media control system faces very strong market forces, an increasingly educated citizenry and cultural change that are making China more open. In some cases, especially on environmental issues,<ref>[http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/chplca.htm 1998 U.S. Embassy Beijing report "The Fading of Environmental Secrecy"]. Accessed [[February 4]] [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/ngo3.htm 1997 U.S. Embassy Beijing report "Environmental NGOs in China: Green is Good, But Don't Openly Oppose the Party"], Accessed [[February 4]] [[2007]]</ref> China's leaders see expressions of public dissatisfaction as a catalyst for positive change. A number of foreign governments and [[non-governmental organization|NGO]]s routinely criticize the PRC, alleging widespread human rights violations including systematic use of lengthy detention without trial, forced confessions, torture, mistreatment of prisoners, restrictions of freedom of speech, [[freedom of assembly|assembly]], [[freedom of association|association]], religion, the press, and [[labor rights]].<ref name=right>[http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sdc/hr_facts.html China Human Rights Fact Sheet] (March 1995).</ref> China leads the world in [[capital punishment]], accounting for roughly 90% of total executions in 2004.<ref>http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0405-07.htm [[5 April]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[23 June]] [[2006]]. ''The Independent/UK'' article, republished.</ref> Human rights issues are one of the factors driving independence movements in [[Tibet]] and [[Xinjiang]]. In the [[Reporters Without Borders]]' Annual World Press Freedom Index of 2005,<ref name = "rsf.org-554"/> the PRC ranked 159 out of 167 places. PRC journalist [[He Qinglian]] in her 2004 book ''Media Control in China''<ref>[http://hrichina.org/public/contents/article?revision%5fid=29582&item%5fid=29576 Media Control in China] published 2004 by Human Rights in China, New York. Revised edition 2006 published by Liming Cultural Enterprises of Taiwan</ref> documents government controls on the [[Internet]] and other media in China. The PRC government has responded by arguing that the notion of human rights should take into account a country's present level of [[economic development]], and focus more on the people's rights to subsistence and development in poorer countries.<ref name = "yqlgro">[http://english.gov.cn/official/2005-07/28/content_18115.htm "China's Progress in Human Rights"] July 2005, Accessed: April 18 2008.</ref> The rise in the [[standard of living]], [[literacy]] and [[life expectancy]] for the average Chinese in the last three decades is seen by the government as tangible progress made in human rights.<ref>[http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/zt/first%20beginning/t56058.htm "China's reform and opening-up promotes human rights, says premier"]. [[11 December]] [[2003]]. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States. Accessed [[28 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Efforts in the past decade to combat deadly natural disasters, such as the perennial [[Yangtze River]] floods, and work-related accidents are also portrayed in China as progress in human rights for a still largely poor country.<ref name = "yqlgro"/> ==Political divisions== {{main|Administrative divisions of China}} {{seealso|List of cities in the People's Republic of China|Names of the territories of the People's Republic of China in Simplified and Traditional Chinese}} The People's Republic of China has administrative control over twenty-two [[Province (China)|provinces]] and considers [[Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China|Taiwan]] to be its twenty-third province.<ref>Gwillim Law ([[April 2]] [[2005]]). [http://www.statoids.com/ucn.html Provinces of China]. Retrieved [[April 15]] [[2006]].</ref> There are also five [[Autonomous regions of China|autonomous regions]], each with a designated minority group; four [[Direct-controlled municipality|municipalities]]; and two [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|Special Administrative Region]]s that enjoy considerable autonomy. The twenty-two provinces, five autonomous regions and four municipalities can be collectively referred to as "[[mainland China]]", a term which usually excludes Hong Kong and Macau. {{PRC provinces small imagemap/province list}} ==Geography and climate== <!--May contain many border inaccuracies: [[Image:ChinaGeography.png|left|The Geography of China|thumb|The Geography of China.]]--> {{main|Geography of China|Geography of the People's Republic of China}} [[Image:Saihanba5.jpg|right|thumb|Grasslands of [[Chengde]], [[Hebei]], [[North China]].]] [[Image:Chinafarmland.jpg|right|thumb|Farmlands in [[East China]].]] [[Image:Tibettrain.jpg|thumb|[[Tibetan Plateau]] in [[Southwest China]].]] [[Image:Sanyabeachchina.jpg|thumb|[[South China Sea]] at [[Hainan]].]] China is the second largest [[country]] in [[Asia]] by [[area]] after Russia, and is considered the [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|third or fourth largest]]<ref>[http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018965313021 "The People's Republic of China"] ([[September 7]] [[2005]]). Foreign & Commonwealth Office</ref> in the world in respect to land-and-sea area. The uncertainty over size is related to (a) the validity of claims by the PRC on territories such as [[Aksai Chin]] and [[Trans-Karakoram Tract]] (both territories also claimed by India), and (b) how the total size of the [[United States]] is calculated: ''The World Factbook'' gives 9,826,630 km²,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/DYB2005/Table03.pdf|title=Population by Sex, Rate of Population Increase, Surface Area and Density|publisher=UN Statistics Division|work=Demographic Yearbook 2005|accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> and the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' gives 9,522,055 km².<ref>{{cite web|url=http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:2lOa44xXcrgJ:www.britannica.com/eb/article-9111233/United-States+United+States+Area+encyclopedia+britannica&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us|title=United States|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> A recent change in the method used by the United States to calculate its surface area adds to the confusion as to the actual size of the United States.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html "Rank Order — Area"] ([[March 29]] [[2006]]). CIA World Factbook.</ref> China borders 14 nations (counted clockwise from south): [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], [[Burma]], [[India]], [[Bhutan]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]],<ref>China's border with Pakistan falls in the disputed [[Kashmir]] province. The area under Pakistani-administration is claimed by India.</ref> [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Russia]], [[Mongolia]] and [[North Korea]]. Additionally the border between PRC and ROC is located in [[territorial waters]]. The territory of the PRC contains a large variety of landscapes. In the east, along the shores of the [[Yellow Sea]] and the [[East China Sea]], there are extensive and densely populated [[alluvium|alluvial plains]], while on the edges of the Inner Mongolian plateau in the north, grasslands can be seen. Southern China is dominated by hill country and low [[mountain range]]s. In the central-east are the [[river delta|deltas]] of China's two major rivers, the [[Yellow River]] and [[Yangtze River]] (Chang Jiang). Other major rivers include the [[Xi River|Xi]], [[Mekong]], [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra]] and [[Amur River|Amur]]. To the west, major mountain ranges, notably the [[Himalayas]], with China's highest point at the eastern half of [[Mount Everest]], and high [[plateau]]s feature among the more arid landscapes such as the [[Taklamakan Desert|Taklamakan]] and the [[Gobi Desert]]. A major issue is the continued expansion of deserts, particularly the Gobi Desert.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4915690.stm "Beijing hit by eighth sandstorm"]. BBC news. Accessed [[17 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Although barrier tree lines planted since the 1970s have reduced the frequency of sandstorms, prolonged [[drought]] and poor agricultural practices result in [[dust storm]]s plaguing northern China each spring, which then spread to other parts of East Asia, including [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]. Water, [[erosion]], and pollution control have become important issues in China's relations with other countries. China has some relevant environmental regulations: the 1979 Environmental Protection Law, which was largely modeled on U.S. legislation. But the environment continues to deteriorate.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ma Xiaoying |coauthors=Leonard Ortalano |title=Environmental Regulation in China |origyear=2000 |origmonth=May |year=2002 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers}}</ref> While the regulations are fairly stringent, they are frequently disregarded by local communities while seeking economic development. Twelve years after the law, only one Chinese city was making an effort to clean up its water discharges.<ref>Sinkule, Barbara J., ''Implementing Environmental Policy in China'', Praeger Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0-275-94980-X</ref> This indicates that China is about twenty years behind the U.S. schedule of environmental regulation. [[Water pollution]] has increased as an issue along with industrial production. The Chinese government has chosen a discharge standard measuring the concentration of a pollutant rather than the total pollutant load (as is done in the U.S. and many Western countries). As a result many industrial dischargers in China simply dilute the effluent with river water taken from the same source as the receiving waters. Consequently the outcome has been to create considerable water pollution in many of the country's rivers. With regard to carbon emissions, China has ratified the [[Kyoto Protocol]] but it is not required to reduce carbon emissions because of its status as a developing country. However, with rapid industrialization, China is fast becoming one of the world's top emitters of carbon gases and possibly a major contributor to [[global warming]]. Part of the price China is paying for increased prosperity is damage to the environment. Leading Chinese environmental campaigner [[Ma Jun (environmentalist)|Ma Jun]] has warned that water pollution is one of the most serious threats facing China. According to Ma the drinking water of 300 million peasants is unsafe and water quality in one fifth of the cities is not up to standard. This makes the crisis of water shortages more pressing, with 400 out of 600 cities short of water.<ref name="water">{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/392-Tackling-China-s-water-crisis-online |title=Tackling China's Water Crisis Online |accessdate = 2007-02-18 |publisher=www.chinadialogue.net |year=2006 |author=Ma, Jun, Li, Naomi |format=Web}}</ref> {{see also|Environment of China|Water resources of the People's Republic of China}} ==Military== {{main|People's Liberation Army}} [[Image:Prcinfantry.jpg|thumb|right|[[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] recruit training.]] With 2.3 million active troops, the [[People's Liberation Army]] (PLA) is the largest military in the world.<ref>[http://www.iiss.org/whats-new/iiss-in-the-press/press-coverage-2005/august-2005/china-seeks-to-allay-us-fears-as-summit-nears China Seeks to Allay U.S. Fears as Summit Nears] (2006). Retrieved [[April 15]] [[2006]].</ref> The PLA consists of an [[People's Liberation Army Ground Force|army]], [[People's Liberation Army Navy|navy]], [[People's Liberation Army Air Force|air force]], and strategic [[People's Liberation Army#Nuclear weapons|nuclear]] force. The official announced [[Military budget of the People's Republic of China|budget]] of the PLA for 2007 was $45 billion. However, the [[United States]] claims China does not report its real military spending. The [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] estimates that the real Chinese military budget for 2007 could be anywhere from US$85 to US$125 billion.<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/070523-China-Military-Power-final.pdf U.S. Department of Defense] </ref>. The PRC, despite possession of [[nuclear weapon]]s and delivery systems, is widely seen by military researchers both within and outside of China as having only limited [[power projection]] capability; this is, among other things, because of the limited effectiveness of its navy. It is considered a major military [[regional power]] and an [[Superpower#People's Republic of China|emerging military superpower]].<ref>Nolt, James H. [http://www.atimes.com/china/BA27Ad01.html Analysis: The China-Taiwan military balance]. Asia Times. Retrieved [[April 15]] [[2006]].</ref> Much progress has been made in the last decade and the PRC continues to make efforts to modernize its military. It has purchased state-of-the-art fighter jets from Russia, such as the [[Sukhoi Su-30]]s, and has also produced its own modern fighters, specifically the Chinese [[Chengdu J-10|J-10]]s and the [[Shenyang J-11|J-11]]s.<ref>[http://sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/default.asp SinoDefence: Fighter Aircraft]. Accessed [[15 April]] [[2006]]</ref> It has also acquired and improved upon the Russian [[S-300]] [[surface-to-air missile]] systems, which are considered to be among the best aircraft-intercepting systems in the world,<ref>[http://sinodefence.com/missile/airdefence/hq9.asp SinoDefence: Surface-to-air Missile System]{{Deadlink|url=http://sinodefence.com/missile/airdefence/hq9.asp|date=March 2008|date=May 2008}} (2006). Accessed [[15 April]] [[2006]].</ref> albeit Russia has since produced the new generation [[S-400 Triumf]]. The PRC's armored and rapid-reaction forces have been updated with enhanced electronics and targeting capabilities. In recent years, much attention has been focused on building a [[People's Liberation Army Navy|navy]] with [[Blue-water navy|blue-water]] capability.<ref>[http://www.sinodefence.com/research/aircraft-carrier/China_Aircraft_Carrier_Ambition.pdf SinoDefence: Aircraft carrier programme] (2006). Accessed [[15 April]] [[2006]]</ref> ==Economy== {{main|Economy of the People's Republic of China|Economy of Hong Kong}} [[Image:DengXiaoping.jpg|thumb|left|150px|In 1978, [[Deng Xiaoping]] initiated China's market-oriented reforms.]] Beginning in late 1978, the Chinese leadership has been [[Economic reform in the People's Republic of China|reforming the economy]] from a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-style centrally planned economy to a more [[market]]-oriented economy that is still within a rigid political framework under Party control. The reforms replaced [[Collective farming|collectivization]] of [[Agriculture in China|Chinese agriculture]] with privatization of farmlands, increased the responsibility of local authorities and industry managers, allowed a wide variety of small-scale enterprises to flourish, and promoted foreign investment. Price controls were also relaxed. These changes resulted in mainland China's shift from a [[planned economy]] to a [[mixed economy]]. [[Image:Prc1952-2005gdp.gif|thumb|Nominal [[Gross domestic product|GDP]], from 1952 to 2005.]] The government emphasizes personal income and consumption by introducing new management systems to help increase productivity. The government also focuses on foreign trade as a major vehicle for economic growth, which led to five [[Special Economic Zone]]s (SEZ: [[Shenzhen]], [[Zhuhai]], [[Shantou]], [[Xiamen]], [[Hainan]]) where investment laws are relaxed so as to attract foreign capital. Since the 1990s, SEZs and similar concepts have been expanded to major Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Beijing. The result has been a six-fold increase of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] since 1978. [[Image:Shanghaistockexchange.jpg|thumb|right| China's [[SSE Composite]] index surged 130 percent in 2006.]] Chinese economic development is among the fastest in the world and has been growing at an average annual GDP rate of 9.4% for the past twenty-five years.<ref>Malik, Khalid ([[December 16]] [[2005]]). [http://www.undp.org.cn/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&catid=13&topic=40&sid=236&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 "Launch of the China Human Development Report 2005"]</ref> Mainland China has a reputation of being a low-cost manufacturer, which caused notable disputes in global markets. This is largely because Chinese corporations can produce many products far more cheaply than other parts of Asia or Latin America and because expensive products produced in [[developed country|developed countries]] like the United States are in large part uncompetitive compared to European or Asian goods. Another factor is the unfavorable [[exchange rate]] between the [[Renminbi|Chinese yuan]] and the [[United States dollar]] to which it was [[Fixed exchange rate|pegged]]. On [[July 21]], [[2005]], the [[People's Bank of China]] announced that it would move to a [[Floating exchange rate|floating peg]], allowing its currency to move against the [[United States dollar]] by 0.5% (effective 18 May 2007, which was earlier 0.3%) a day, while 3% a day against other currencies.<ref>[http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/gyzg/t213645.htm China widens yuan, non-dollar trading range to 3%] ([[September 23]] [[2005]]). Retrieved [[April 15]] [[2006]].</ref> Many high-tech American companies have difficulty exporting to China because of U.S. federal government restrictions, which exacerbated the trade gap between the PRC and the US, widespread [[Copyright infringement of software|software piracy]] and illegal copying of [[intellectual property]] (a major US export), and perceived low quality of US goods. At the end of 2005, the PRC became the fourth-largest economy in the world by exchange rate and the second-largest in the world after the [[United States]] by [[purchasing power parity]] at US$8,158 trillion.<ref>[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/geos/ch.html CIA Factbook]</ref> But with its large population, this still gives an average GDP per person of only an estimated US$8,000 (2006). <!-- too specific, move to PRC economy article: Preferential tax incentives are also given as a direct fiscal incentive to manufacture in China, whether for export or for domestic sales. China is attempting to harmonize the system of taxes and duties it imposes on enterprises, domestic and foreign alike. As a result, preferential tax and duty policies that benefit exporters in special economic zones and coastal cities have been targeted for revision. --> Today, only ten percent of the Chinese population is below the poverty line. 90.9% of the population is relatively literate,<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html CIA - The World Fact Book]</ref> compared to 20% in 1950.<ref>Plafker, Ted, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/02/12/rchina.t.php China's Long — but Uneven — March to Literacy] International Herald Tribune</ref> There is a large wealth disparity between the coastal regions and the remainder of the country. To counter this potentially destabilizing problem, the government has initiated the [[China Western Development]] strategy (2000), the [[Revitalize Northeast China]] initiative (2003), and the [[Rise of Central China Plan|Rise of Central China]] policy (2004), which are all aimed at helping the interior of China to catch up. As of 2006, approximately 70% of China's growth came from the [[private sector]]. The private sector was dominated by about 200 large [[Entrepreneurship|enterprise]]s concentrated mostly in [[utilities]], [[heavy industries]], and [[Natural resource|energy resources]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_34/b3948478.htm |title="China Is a Private-Sector Economy" |publisher=BussinessWeek |date=2005-08-22 |accessdate=2007-03-27}}</ref> China is undergoing major reforms in its financial sector, which has been plagued by nonperforming loans made in the 1980s and early 1990s to inefficient [[Government-owned corporation|state-owned enterprises]]. The government has spent five years and more than US$400 billion cleaning bad loans off the books of the big four state-owned banks, helping prepare them to become shareholder corporations.<ref name="Barboza">[http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/21/business/bank.php China will list the Agricultural Bank of China, once restructured] David Barboza, ''International Herald Tribune''. Accessed: [[11 February]] [[2007]].</ref> By the end of 2006, China had restructured three of its four largest banks and listed them publicly. China's largest bank, the [[Industrial and Commercial Bank of China]] (ICBC) in October 2006 raised US$21.6 billion in the world's largest [[initial public offering]] (IPO) in history. As of 2008, '''ICBC''' is now the world's largest bank in market value. ==Science and technology== {{main|Science and technology in the People's Republic of China|List of Chinese inventions}} [[Image:Wind power plants in Xinjiang, China.jpg|thumb|[[Wind turbine]]s in [[Xinjiang]]. The Dabancheng project is Asia's largest [[wind farm]].]] After the [[Sino-Soviet split]], China started to develop its own [[nuclear weapon]]s and delivery systems, successfully detonating its first surface [[nuclear testing|nuclear test]] in 1964 at [[Lop Nur]]. A natural outgrowth of this was a satellite launching program, which culminated in 1970 with the launching of [[Dong Fang Hong I]], the first Chinese satellite. This made the PRC the fifth nation to independently launch a satellite. In 1992, the [[Shenzhou spacecraft|Shenzhou]] manned spaceflight program was authorized.<ref>[http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26079.htm China's First Man-made Satellite] (2003). Ministry of Culture. Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> After four tests, ''[[Shenzhou 5]]'' was launched on [[October 15]], [[2003]], using a [[Long March rocket|Long March 2F rocket]] and carrying Chinese astronaut [[Yang Liwei]], making the PRC the third country to put a human being into [[outer space|space]] through its own endeavors.<ref>Wade, Mark. [http://www.astronautix.com/craft/shenzhou.htm Shenzhou] ([[6 January]] [[2006]]). Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> With the successful completion of the second manned mission, ''[[Shenzhou 6]]'' in October 2005, the country plans to build a [[Project 921-2|Chinese Space Station]] in the near future and achieve a lunar landing in the next decade.<ref>Wade, Mark. ([[30 March]] [[2005]])[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/prot9212.htm Project 921-2]. Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> China has the world's second largest [[research and development]] budget, and is expected to invest over $136 billion this year after growing more than 20% in the past year.<ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/da4ed9f2-82fa-11db-a38a-0000779e2340.html "China overtakes Japan on R&D"] ''Financial Times''. Accessed [[3 December]] [[2006]].</ref> The Chinese government continues to place heavy emphasis on research and development by creating greater public awareness of innovation, and reforming financial and tax systems to promote growth in cutting-edge industries. President Hu Jintao in January 2006 called for China to make the transition from a manufacturing-based economy to an innovation-based one, and this year's National People's Congress has approved large increases in research funding. [[stem cell|Stem cell research]] and [[gene therapy]], which some in the [[Western world]] see as controversial, face minimal regulation in China. China has an estimated 926,000 researchers, second only to the United States' 1.3 million.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8LQ0OI00.htm OECD: China to spend $136 billion on R&D] ''BusinessWeek''. Retrieved [[3 December]] [[2006]].</ref> China is also actively developing its [[computer software|software]], [[semiconductor]] and [[energy industry|energy]] industries, including [[renewable energy|renewable energies]] such as hydro, wind and solar power.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2006/gb20060331_921612.htm "Blinding Science: China's Race to Innovate"] Bruce Einhorn, ''Business Week'', [[31 March]] [[2006]], accessed: [[16 April]] [[2006]].</ref> In an effort to reduce pollution from coal-burning power plants, China has been pioneering the deployment of [[pebble bed reactor|pebble bed nuclear reactors]], which run cooler and safer, and have potential applications for the [[hydrogen economy]].<ref>[http://daga.dhs.org/daga/readingroom/newsclips/2004/wto/41005scmp03.htm "China leading world in next generation of nuclear plants"] Robert J. Saiget. ''DAGA''. [[5 October]] [[2004]]. Accessed [[16 April]] [[2006]]. </ref> ==Transportation== {{main|Transport in the People's Republic of China}} [[Image:Central Jingshi Expressway9.jpg|right|thumb|G030 northbound in [[Hebei]]. There are 45,000&nbsp;km (28,000&nbsp;mi) of expressways in China. This is the second-longest total in the world, and half that of the United States.]] Transportation in the mainland of the People's Republic of China has improved remarkably since the late 1990s as part of a government effort to link the entire nation through a series of [[Expressways of China|expressways]] known as the National Trunk Highway System (NTHS). The total length of expressway is 45,000&nbsp;km at the end of 2006, second only to the United States.<ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200612/30/eng20061230_337130.html China to build more highways in 2007]</ref><ref>[http://www.chinagate.com.cn/english/45626.htm Expressways Being Built at Frenetic Pace]</ref> Most of the expressways, however, require tolls. Private car ownership is increasing at an annual rate of 15%, though it is still uncommon because of government policies that make car ownership expensive, such as taxes and toll roads.<ref> [http://www.earlywarning.com/articles/2005_06_13_china_cars_drive "China's Car Drive"] ([[June 13]] [[2005]]). Earlywarning.</ref> Private highway driving is becoming more common, being almost nonexistent ten years ago. Domestic air travel has increased significantly, but remains too expensive for most. Long distance transportation is dominated by [[Rail transport|railways]] and charter bus systems. Railways are the vital carrier in China; they are monopolized by the state, divided into various railway bureaus in different regions. At the rates of demand it experiences, the system has historically been subject to overcrowding during travel seasons such as ''[[Chunyun]]'' during [[Chinese New Year]]. Cities such as [[Beijing]] and [[Shanghai]] both have a rapidly expanding network of [[Rapid transit|subway]] or [[light rail]] systems, while several other cities also have running rapid transit. Numerous cities are also constructing subways. [[Transport in Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] has one of the most developed transport systems in the world. Shanghai has a [[Shanghai Maglev Train|Maglev]] rail line connecting Shanghai's urban area to [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport|Pudong International Airport]]. {{seealso|Rail transport in the People's Republic of China}} ==Demographics== {{main|Demographics of the People's Republic of China|List of ethnic groups in China}} [[As of July 2006]], there are 1,313,973,713 people in the PRC. About 20.8% (male 145,461,833; female 128,445,739) are 14 years old or younger, 71.4% (male 482,439,115; female 455,960,489) are between 15 and 64 years old, and 7.7% (male 48,562,635; female 53,103,902) are over 65 years old. The population growth rate for 2006 is 0.59%.<ref name=pop>[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html#People CIA World Factbook]. [[20 April]] [[2006]]. ''URL accessed [[3 May]] [[2006]].''</ref> The PRC officially recognizes 56 distinct ethnic groups, the largest of which are the [[Han Chinese]], who constitute about 91.9% of the total population.<ref>[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html CIA factbook] ([[29 March]] [[2006]]). Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> Large ethnic minorities include the [[Zhuang]] (16 million), [[Manchu]] (10 million), [[Hui people|Hui]] (9 million), [[Hmong people|Miao]] (8 million), [[Uyghur people|Uyghur]] (7 million), [[Yi people|Yi]] (7 million), [[Tujia]] (5.75 million), [[Mongols]] (5 million), [[Tibetan people|Tibetan]]s (5 million), [[Buyei]] (3 million), and [[Koreans]] (2 million).<ref>Stein, Justin J (Spring 2003). [http://www.princeton.edu/~jpia/pdf2003/Ch%208%20Xinjiang-Stein-JPIA%202003.pdf Taking the Deliberative in China]. Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref> In the past decade, China's cities expanded at an average rate of 10% annually. The country's urbanization rate increased from 17.4% to 41.8% between 1978 and 2005, a scale unprecedented in human history.<ref>Zhou Qun, Lin Yanhua. [http://www.chinanews.cn/news/2005/2005-11-18/14441.html China's urbanization encounters "urban disease"], Chinanews.cn (中国新闻网), [[November 11]] [[2005]]. Accessed [[21 April]] [[2005]].</ref> 80 to 120 million [[migrant worker]]s work part-time in the major cities and return home to the countryside periodically with their earnings.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/china/migrant_p1.html China 2004 Migrant Workers], CBC Radio One, December 2004. Accessed: [[21 April]] [[2006]]</ref> Today, the People's Republic of China has dozens of major cities with one million or more long-term residents, including the three [[global city|global cities]] of [[Beijing]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[Shanghai]]. Major cities in China play key roles in national and regional identity, culture and economics. ===Largest cities=== The figures below are the 2001 estimates for the ten largest urban populations within administrative city limits; a different ranking exists when considering the total municipal populations (which includes suburban and rural populations). The large floating populations of migrant workers make conducting censuses in urban areas difficult;<ref>Francesco Sisci, "China's floating population a headache for census", ''The Straits Times'', [[22 September]] [[2000]].</ref> the figures below do not include the floating population, only long-term residents. {{People's Republic of China cities}} {{seealso|List of cities in the People's Republic of China by population}} ==Education== {{main|Education in the People's Republic of China}} [[Image:Pmorgan xinjiang.jpg|thumb|A public school classroom in the western region of [[Xinjiang]].]] In 1986, China set the long-term goal of providing compulsory nine-year basic education to every child. As of 1997, there were 628,840 primary schools, 78,642 secondary schools and 1,020 higher education institutions in the PRC.<ref>[http://www.asia-planet.net/china/education.htm Education] (2002). Orasia co., ltd.</ref> In February 2006, the government advanced its basic education goal by pledging to provide completely free nine-year education, including textbooks and fees, in the poorer western provinces.<ref>[http://en.ce.cn/National/Rural/200602/21/t20060221_6154334.shtml China pledges free 9-year education in rural west] ([[February 21]] [[2006]]). China Economic Net.</ref> As of 2002, 90.9% (male: 95.1%; female: 86.5%) of the population over age 15 are literate.<ref name=pop>[http://travelblog.org/World/ch-ppl.html "Chinese People"] (2005). TravelBlog. </ref> China's youth (age 15 to 24) literacy rate is 98.9% (99.2% for males and 98.5% for females) in 2000.<ref>[http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/file_download.php/b44872c5f2dfd9c825236194562a2b7fRoss_China.doc Where And Who Are The World’s Illiterates: China]</ref> In March 2007, China announced the decision of making education a national "strategic priority", the central budget of the national scholarships will be tripled in two years and 223.5 billion Yuan (28.65 billion US dollars) of extra funding will be allocated from the central government in the next 5 years to improve the compulsory education in rural areas.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/05/content_5800996.htm Premier Wen announces hefty educational investment] (2007). Retrieved [[March 6]] [[2007]].</ref> The quality of [[List of universities in the People's Republic of China|Chinese colleges and universities]] varies considerably across the country. The consistently top-ranked universities in mainland China are [[Peking University|Peking]] and [[Tsinghua University|Tsinghua]] in [[Beijing]]; [[Fudan University|Fudan]], [[Shanghai Jiao Tong University]] and [[East China Normal University]] in [[Shanghai]]; [[Xi'an Jiaotong University]] in [[Xi'an]]; [[Nanjing University]] in [[Nanjing]]; the [[University of Science and Technology of China]] in [[Hefei]]; [[Zhejiang University]] in [[Hangzhou]] and [[Wuhan University]] in [[Wuhan]].<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/21/content_418027.htm 2005 Chinese University Ranking unveiled] ([[February 21]] [[2005]]). China Daily. Retrieved [[April 16]] [[2006]].</ref><ref>[http://rank2003.netbig.com/en/rnk_1_0_0.htm All-around Ranking] (2003). Retrieved [[April 17]] [[2006]].</ref> Many parents are highly committed to their children's education, often investing large portions of the family's income on education. Private lessons and recreational activities, such as in foreign languages or music, are popular among the middle-class families who can afford them.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3693714.stm "China's graft: Tough talk, old message" by Mary Hennock]. [[27 September]] [[2004]]. BBC News. ''Accessed [[2 May]] [[2006]]''.</ref> ==Public health== {{main|Public health in the People's Republic of China}} [[Image:Beijing pollution .jpg|thumb|Since China has some of the most polluted cites in the world,<ref>[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/CHINAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20680895~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:318950,00.html The World Bank - China Quick Facts]</ref> respiratory problems have increased because of [[Environment of China|widespread air pollution]].<ref name = "FT-china-pollution">{{cite web |url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8f40e248-28c7-11dc-af78-000b5df10621.html|title= 750,000 a year killed by Chinese pollution|accessdate=2007-07-22 |publisher= ''[[Financial Times]]''|date= 2007-07-02|author= McGregor, Richard}}</ref>]] The [[Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of Health]], together with its counterparts in the provincial health bureaus, oversees the health needs of the Chinese population.<ref>[http://www.casy.org/Chindoc/mohprofile.htm China AIDS Survey at Yahoo] Accessed [[18 April]] [[2006]].</ref> An emphasis on [[public health]] and [[Preventive medicine|preventative treatment]] characterized health policy since the early 1950s. At that time, the [[Communist Party of China|party]] started the [[Patriotic Health Campaign]], which was aimed at improving [[sanitation]] and [[hygiene]], as well as attacking several [[disease]]s. This has shown major results as diseases like cholera, typhoid, and scarlet fever were nearly eradicated. With economic reform after 1978, the health of the Chinese public improved rapidly because of better nutrition despite the disappearance, along with the People's Communes, of much of the free public health services provided in the countryside. Health care in China became largely private fee-for-service. This was widely criticised by the Islamic Hui populations of the North West, who were often unable to obtain medical support in their remote communities. By 2000, when the [[World Health Organization]] made a large study of public health systems throughout the world, [http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/ The World Health Report 2000 Health Systems: Improving Performance] the Chinese public health system ranked 144 of the 191 UN member states ranked. The country's [[Life expectancy|life expectancy at birth]] jumped from about 35 years in 1949 to 73.18 years in 2008,<ref>[http://www.globalgeografia.it/temi/Population%20Growth%20in%20China.pdf "Population Growth in China : The Basic Characteristics of China’s Demographic Transition" by Maristella Bergaglio].</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html "China"]. CIA World Factbook, 2008-05-16</ref> and [[infant mortality]] went down from 300 per thousand in the 1950s to about 23 per thousand in 2006.<ref name=pop>[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html#People CIA World Factbook]. [[20 April]] [[2006]]. ''URL accessed [[3 May]] [[2006]].''</ref><ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/19012.htm China’s Infant Mortality Rate Down]. [[11 September]] [[2001]]. CHINA.ORG.CN. ''URL accessed [[3 May]] [[2006]].''</ref> [[Malnutrition]] as of 2002 stood at 12 percent of the population according to [[United Nations]] [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]] sources.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/nutrition/cpr-e.stm|title= Nutrition country profiles: China summary|accessdate=2007-07-22}}</ref> <!--Recent health insurance initiatives like the Ningxia Cooperative Plan should be mentioned here--> Despite significant improvements in health and the introduction of western style medical facilities, the PRC has several emerging [[public health]] problems, which include respiratory problems as a result of [[Environment of China|widespread air pollution]]<ref name = "FT-china-pollution"/> and millions of [[tobacco smoking|cigarette smokers]],<ref>[http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/~pine/Phil110/chinasmoking.html "Smoking 'will kill one third of young Chinese men'"]. [[16 August]] [[2001]]. Honolulu Community College. Accessed [[17 April]] [[2006]].</ref> a possible future [[HIV/AIDS in the People's Republic of China|HIV/AIDS epidemic]], and an increase in [[obesity]] among urban youths.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/dispatches/09.23.health/ "Serving the people?"]. 1999. Bruce Kennedy. CNN. Accessed [[17 April]] [[2006]].</ref><ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/english/200008/04/eng20000804_47271.html "Obesity Sickening China's Young Hearts"] [[4 August]] [[2000]]. People's Daily. Accessed [[17 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Estimates of excess deaths in China from environmental pollution (apart from smoking) are placed at 760,000 people per annum from air and water pollution (including [[indoor air quality|indoor air pollution]]).<ref>International Herald Tribune, Tues July 31, 2007, p16</ref> China's large population and close living quarters has led to some serious disease outbreaks in recent years, such as the 2003 outbreak of [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS]] (a pneumonia-like disease) which has since been largely contained.<ref>[http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_05_18a/en/index.html "China’s latest SARS outbreak has been contained, but biosafety concerns remain"]. [[18 May]] [[2004]]. [[World Health Organization]]. Accessed [[17 April]] [[2006]].</ref> ==Culture== {{main|Culture of the People's Republic of China|Culture of China}} <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:shanghaimuseumscrolls.jpg|thumb|right|Museum patrons viewing ancient Chinese scroll paintings at the [[Shanghai Museum]].]] --> [[Image:Coolfairy2004-1.jpg|thumb|A [[Cold Fairyland]] concert performance. The band combines [[List of traditional Chinese musical instruments|traditional Chinese instruments]] and musical elements with [[rock music]].]] For centuries, opportunity for economic and social advancement in [[China]] could be provided by high performance on [[Imperial examination]]s. The literary emphasis of the exams affected the general perception of cultural refinement in China, such as the belief that [[East Asian calligraphy|calligraphy]] and literati painting were higher forms of art than dancing or drama. China's traditional values were derived from various versions of [[Confucianism]] and [[conservatism]]. A number of more [[authoritarianism|authoritarian]] and [[rationalism|rational]] strains of thought have also been influential, such as [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalism]]. There was often conflict between the philosophies, such as the [[individualism|individualistic]] [[Song Dynasty]] [[Neo-Confucianism|neo-Confucians]], who believed Legalism departed from the original spirit of Confucianism. [[Examination]]s and a [[meritocracy|culture of merit]] remain greatly valued in China today. In recent years, a number of [[New Confucianism|New Confucians]] have advocated that democratic ideals and human rights are quite compatible with traditional Confucian "Asian values."<ref>Bary, Theodore de. [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ccba/cear/issues/fall97/graphics/special/debary/debary.htm "Constructive Engagement with Asian Values"]. Columbia University.</ref> The first leaders of the People's Republic of China were born in the old society but were influenced by the [[May Fourth Movement]] and reformist ideals. They sought to change some traditional aspects of Chinese culture, such as rural land tenure, sexism, and a Confucian education, while preserving others, such as the family structure and obedience to the state. Many observers believe that the period following 1949 is a continuation of traditional Chinese [[Dynasty|dynastic]] history, while others say that the CPC's rule has damaged the foundations of Chinese culture, especially through political movements such as the [[Cultural Revolution]], where many aspects of traditional culture were labeled 'regressive and harmful' or 'vestiges of feudalism' by the regime. They further argue that many important aspects of traditional Chinese morals and culture, such as [[Confucianism]], [[Chinese art]], literature, and performing arts like [[Beijing opera]], were altered to conform to government policies and propaganda at the time. One example being [[Simplified Chinese character|Chinese character simplification]], since [[Traditional Chinese character|traditional characters]] were blamed for the country's low literacy rate at the time.<ref name="Yen">Yen, Yuehping. [2005] (2005). Calligraphy and Power in Contemporary Chinese Society. Routledge. ISBN 0415317533</ref> However, simplified Chinese characters are not used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.<ref name="Yen" /> Today, the PRC government has accepted a great deal of traditional [[Culture of China|Chinese culture]] as an integral part of Chinese society, lauding it as an important achievement of the [[China|Chinese civilization]] and emphasizing it as vital to a [[Chinese nationalism|Chinese national identity]]. Since the Cultural Revolution has ended, various forms of traditional Chinese art, literature, music, film, fashion and architecture have seen a vigorous revival,<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+cn0133) "China: Traditional arts". Library of Congress - Country Studies.] Accessed: [[26 December]], [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-258942/China "China: Cultural life: The arts". Encyclopædia Britannica Online] Accessed: [[26 December]], [[2007]].</ref> and folk and variety art in particular have gained a new found respectability, and sparked interest nationally and even worldwide.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+cn0138) "China: Folk and Variety Arts". Library of Congress - Country Studies.] Accessed: [[26 December]], [[2007]].</ref> ===Religion=== {{main|Religion in China}} {{seealso|Chinese folk religion|Feng shui}} [[Image:Lingyinsi1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lingyin Temple - A Buddhist monastery in [[Hangzhou]], [[Zhejiang]]]] The state is officially atheist, with accordance to the basic doctrines of [[Marxism]]. However, due to a multitude of cultural and historical reasons, it is impossible to determine the exact amount of adherents to any larger religious groups such as Buddhism and Taoism. This is due to ambiguity over what constitutes a practicing Buddhist and how to draw the line between Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religions. Some sources claim that the majority of Chinese people follow [[Buddhism]] (between 660 million, 50%, and over 1 billion, 80%)<ref>[http://www.vipassanafoundation.com/Buddhists.html Buddhists in the world<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and/or [[Taoism]] (400 million, 30%).<ref>[http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=468&Itemid=34 Asia Sentinel - How Now Tao?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/SCMP%20Daoism%2030%20April%202007.pdf Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) ]</ref> Number of adherents to these religions can be overlaid in percentage due to the fact that some Chinese consider themselves both Buddhist and Taoist. In addition, subscribing to Buddhism and Taoism is not necessarily considered religious in the sense that a large number of people follow the philosophies in principle but stop short at subscribing to any kind of [[divinity]] <ref>[http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion Religions and Beliefs in China]</ref><ref>[http://www.sacu.org/religion.html Society for Anglo Chinese Understanding (SACU)]</ref><ref>[http://www.index-china.com/index-english/people-religions-s.html Index-China Chinese Philosophies and religions]</ref> Buddhists are mostly nominal adherents because only a small proportion of the population (over 8% or over 100 million)<ref>[http://adherents.com/largecom/com_buddhist.html Adherents.com: Buddhism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90133.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007 - China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)]</ref> may have taken the formal step of [[Refuge (Buddhism)|going for refuge]].<ref>[http://www.askasia.org/teachers/essays/essay.php?no=16 AskAsia - Buddhism in China]</ref><ref>[http://www.globaled.org/curriculum/china/bessay1.htm TheAmericanForum For Global Education]</ref> [[Mahayana]] (大乘, ''Dacheng'') and its subsets [[Pure Land Buddhism|Pure Land]] (Amidism), [[Tiantai]] and [[Zen]] are the most widely practiced denominations of Buddhism. Other forms, such as [[Theravada]] and [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan]], are practiced largely by ethnic minorities along the geographic fringes of the Chinese mainland.<ref>Macintosh, R. Scott. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0309/p01s04-woap.html China's prosperity inspires rising spirituality] (March 9, 2006). Retrieved [[April 15]] [[2006]].</ref> Numbers for minority religions are also hard to determine. [[Christianity]] has gained a significant following since the late 19th Century (between 40 million, 3%,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6337627.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Survey finds 300m China believers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and 54 million, 4%),<ref>[http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2007/s07100011.htm China Survey Reveals Fewer Christians than Some Evangelicals Want to Believe<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Islam]] (20 million, 1.5%), [[Hinduism]], [[Dongbaism]], [[Bön|Bon]], and a number of new religions and sects (particularly [[Xiantianism]]). [[Islam]], first arrived in China after the 7th century during the [[Tang Dynasty]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Islam was later spread by merchants and craftsmen as trade routes improved along the [[Silk Road]], while Christianity began to make significant inroads in China after the 16th century through [[Jesuit]] and later [[protestant]] [[missionaries]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Islam arrived in China during the 8th century, only a few years after the [[Prophets in Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]]'s death.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The Emperor of China took Islam highly,{{Dubious|date=May 2008}} and the first mosque in China, the [[Huaisheng Mosque]] was built in Canton, [[Guangzhou]] in 630.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Official figures also indicate that there are about 20 million [[Muslim]]s.<ref>Counting up the number of people of traditionally Muslim nationalities who were enumerated in the 1990 census gives a total of 17.6 million, 96% of whom belong to just three nationalities: Hui 8.6 million, Uyghurs 7.2 million, and Kazakhs 1.1 million. Other nationalities that are traditionally Muslim include Kyrghyz, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Tatars, Salar, Bonan, and Dongxiang. See Dru C. Gladney, "Islam in China: Accommodation or Separatism?", Paper presented at Symposium on Islam in Southeast Asia and China, Hong Kong, 2002. Available at http://www.islamsymposium.cityu.edu.hk. The 2000 census reported a total of 20.3 million members of Muslim nationalities, of which again 96% belonged to just three groups: Hui 9.8 million, Uyghurs 8.4 million, and Kazakhs 1.25 million.</ref> A government official recently suggested that there are 16 million Christians.<ref>{{cite web | title=Chinese government official statistics on Christian population in China | url=http://hrwf.org/religiousfreedom/news/2007PDF/China%202007.doc | publisher=hrwf.org | accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref> However, an independent survey by [[East China Normal University]] estimated the Christian population at 40 million, much higher than the government's numbers but much lower than numbers favored by some Western observers.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2007690,00.html | title=Christian population in China | publisher=guardian.co.uk | accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref> According to the surveys of Phil Zuckerman on [[Adherents.com]]; in 1998, 59.10% (over 700 million)<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_473.html Adherents.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> of the Chinese population was [[irreligious]]. According to the only official count, by the Sports Administration in 1998, there were 50-70 million practitioners of [[Falun Gong]].<ref>Joan Delaney, [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-10-29/61346.html CBC Documentary Probes Falun Gong Persecution in China], Epoch Times, October 29 2007.</ref> As there are no membership lists, current global numbers are unknown. ===Sports and recreation=== {{main|Sports in China}} [[Image:Wangfujingbasketball.jpg|thumb|Evening pickup basketball game in a Beijing neighborhood.]] China has one of the [[Sports in China|oldest sporting cultures]] in the world, spanning the course of several millennia. There is, in fact, evidence that a form of [[association football]] was played in [[China]] in ancient times.<ref>[http://athleticscholarships.net/history-of-soccer.htm Origins of the Great Game]. 2000. Athleticscholarships.net. Accessed [[23 April]] [[2006]].</ref> Besides soccer,<ref>[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=370457&cc=5901 ESPN Soccernet]. 2002. ESPN Soccernet. Accessed [[26 January]] [[2006]]</ref> some of the most popular sports in the country include [[Chinese martial arts|martial arts]], [[table tennis]], [[badminton]], [[swimming]], [[basketball]], and more recently, [[golf]] and [[Rugby football|rugby]]. [[Board game]]s such as [[Go (board game)|Go]] (Weiqi), and [[Xiangqi]] (Chinese chess) and recently [[Chess]] are also commonly played and have organized competitions. [[Physical fitness]] is widely emphasized in [[culture of China|Chinese culture]]. Morning exercises are a common activity and often one can find the elderly practicing [[qigong]] and [[tai chi chuan]] in parks or students doing stretches on school campuses. Young people are especially keen on [[basketball]], especially in urban centers with limited space and grass areas. The [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] has a huge following among Chinese youths, with [[Yao Ming]] being the idol of many.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/heroes/yao_ming.html |title=Yao Ming |accessdate=2007-03-30 |last=Beech |first=Hannah |year=2003 |format=HTML |work=Asian Heros |publisher=Time Magazine }}</ref> The [[2008 Summer Olympics]], officially known as the ''Games of the XXIX Olympiad'', will be held in [[Beijing]], and as a result the country has put even more emphasis on sports. Many traditional sports are also played. The popular Chinese [[dragon boat]] [[dragon boat racing|racing]] (龙舟) occurs during the [[Dragon Boat Festival]]. In [[Inner Mongolia]], sports such as [[Mongolian wrestling|Mongolian-style wrestling]] and [[horse racing]] are popular. In [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]], [[archery]] and [[equestrianism]] are a part of traditional festivals.<ref>Qinfa, Ye. [http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa032301a.htm Sports History of China]. About.com. Retrieved [[April 21]] [[2006]].</ref> {{seealso|Chinese art|Chinese architecture|Han Chinese clothing|Chinese cuisine|Traditional Chinese medicine|Chinese literature|Chinese mythology|Cinema of China|Chinese animation|Music of China|Public holidays in the People's Republic of China|List of Chinese people}} ==See also== {{portal}} {{portal|China}} * [[China]] (civilization) * [[Government of the People's Republic of China|Chinese government]] * [[Chinese Soviet Republic]] * [[Zhonghua minzu]] ==References== <!-- scroll boxes should not be used in main article space, as it renders any content obscured within the template unprintable. This is especially true with text content, such as citations, according to a June 2007 discussion: [[Wikipedia:Templates_for_deletion/Log/2007_June_11#Template:Scrollref]].''' Please, if you see a scroll box in article space, remove it and put a hidden warning.--> <div class="references-small"> {{reflist|2}} </div> ==Further reading== {{sisterlinks|China}} *{{cite book |last=Lynch |first=Michael |title=Peoples Republic Of China 1949–90 |year=1998 |publisher=[[Trafalgar Square Publishing]] |isbn=0-340-68853-X}} *{{cite book |last=Murphey |first=Rhoads |title=East Asia: A New History |year=1996 |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=0-321-07801-2 }} *{{cite book |author=Sang Ye |title=China Candid: The People on the People's Republic |year=2006 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |location= |isbn=0-520-24514-8}} *{{cite book |last=Selden |first=Mark |title=The People's Republic of China: Documentary History of Revolutionary Change |year=1979 |publisher=Monthly Review Press |location=New York |isbn=0-853-45532-5}} *{{cite book |last=Terrill |first=Ross |title=The New Chinese Empire, And What It Means For The United States |year=2003 |publisher=Basic Books |location=New York |isbn=0-465-08412-5}} *{{cite book |last=Thurston |first=Anne F. |title=China Bound: A Guide to Academic Life and Work in the PRC |year=1994 |publisher=[[National Academies Press]] |location=Washington |isbn=0-309-04932-6}} *Farah, Paolo, ''Five Years of China’s WTO Membership. EU and US Perspectives on China’s Compliance with Transparency Commitments and the Transitional Review Mechanism'', Legal Issues of Economic Integration, Kluwer Law International, Volume 33, Number 3, pp. 263–304, 2006. [http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=916768 Abstract]. *Heilig, Gerhard K., ''China Bibliography - Online.'' 2006, 2007. [http://www.china-profile.com/bib/bib_start.htm]. {{clear}} ==External links== <!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> <!--| DO NOT ADD MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF |--> <!--| LINKS. If you think that your link might be useful, do not add it here, |--> <!--| but put it on this article's discussion page first or submit your link |--> <!--| to the appropriate category at the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org)|--> <!--| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. |--> <!--| |--> <!--| Links that have not been verified WILL BE DELETED. |--> <!--| See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details |--> <!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Overviews''' <div class="references-small"> *[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/china/home.html People's Daily: China at a Glance] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1287798.stm BBC News — ''Country Profile: China''] *{{CIA World Factbook link|ch|China}} *[http://www.monthlyreview.org/1105wu.htm "Rethinking ‘Capitalist Restoration’ in China"] by Yiching Wu </div> '''Documentaries''' <div class="references-small"> *[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/china/ "China on the Rise"] PBS Online NewsHour. October 2005. *''[http://www.nytimes.com/specials/chinarises/intro/index.html China Rises]'' a documentary co-produced by ''The New York Times'', ''Discovery Times'', CBC, ZDF, France 5 and S4C. [[9 April]][[2006]]. *[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/ ''China in the Red''], 1998–2001. PBS Frontline. *''[http://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinainside/ China From the Inside]'' A documentary series co-produced by KQED Public Television and Granada Television. </div> '''Government''' <div class="references-small"> *[http://english.gov.cn/ The Central People's Government of People's Republic of China (English)] *[http://www.china.org.cn/ China's Official Gateway for News & Information (English)] </div> {{col-2}} '''Studies''' <div class="references-small"> *[http://ifri.org/files/Securite_defense/Prolif_Paper_Minxin_Pei.pdf Assertive Pragmatism: China's Economic Rise and Its Impact on Chinese Foreign Policy] - analysis by Minxin Pei, IFRI Proliferation Papers n°15, 2006 *[http://www.globalpolitician.com/articles.asp?ID=341 The Dragon's Dawn: China as a Rising Imperial Power] [[February 11]], [[2005]]. *[http://www.china-profile.com/history/hist_list_1.htm History of The People's Republic of China] Timeline of Key Events since 1949. *[http://www.danwei.org/ Media, advertising, and urban life in China.] *[http://www.chinastudygroup.org/index.php?action=front2&type=view&id=152 China's Neoliberal Dynasty] by Peter Kwong, originally published in [[The Nation]] [[2 October]] [[2006]]. </div> '''Travel''' <div class="references-small"> *{{wikitravel|China}} </div> '''Maps''' <div class="references-small"> *[http://maps.google.com/maps?q=China&ll=30.600094,103.710938&spn=64.10009,177.1875&om=1 Google Maps - China] *[http://www.china-profile.com/maps/map_overview_1.htm Google Maps - China] Interesting locations {{Wikiatlas|the People's Republic of China}} </div> {{col-end}} {{editsection}} {| width="100%" class="collapsible collapsed" style="background:transparent; margin:1em 0 0;" !style="background:lemonchiffon; border:1px solid silver; padding:0.2em 1em 0.2em 6.5em; <!--to reduce size of "[show]" link:-->font-size:90%;"| {{resize|130%|Templates}}</tr> | {{People's Republic of China topics}} {{Template group |title = {{resize|105%|Geographic locale}} |list = {{Territories of Greater China}} {{Countries and territories of East Asia}} {{Countries of Asia}} }} {{Template group |title = {{resize|105%|International membership}} |list = {{East Asia Summit (EAS)}} {{Communist states}} {{UN Security Council}} {{World Trade Organization (WTO)}} {{Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)}} {{Shanghai Cooperation Organisation}} {{G8+5}} {{BRIC countries}} {{Like Minded Group}} }} |} {{coor title dm|35|00|N|105|00|E|type:country}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:People's Republic of China| ]] [[Category:Republics|China, People's Republic of]] [[Category:Chinese-speaking countries and territories|China, People's Republic of]] [[Category:States and territories established in 1949|China, People's Republic of]] {{Link FA|eu}} {{Link FA|sco}} {{Link FA|vi}} {{Link FA|zh}} <!--Interwikis--> [[af:Volksrepubliek van Sjina]] [[als:Volksrepublik China]] [[ang:Folclicu Cynewīse Cīnan]] [[ar:جمهورية الصين الشعبية]] [[an:Republica Popular de China]] [[frp:Rèpublica populèra de Ch·ina]] [[ast:China]] [[az:Çin Xalq Respublikası]] [[bn:গণচীন]] [[zh-min-nan:Tiong-hoâ Jîn-bîn Kiōng-hô-kok]] [[ba:Ҡытай]] [[be:Кітай]] [[be-x-old:Кітай]] [[bs:Narodna Republika Kina]] [[br:Republik Pobl Sina]] [[bg:Китайска народна република]] [[ca:República Popular de la Xina]] [[cv:Китай]] [[ceb:Tsina]] [[cs:Čínská lidová republika]] [[za:Cunghvaz Yinzminz Gunghozgoz]] [[cy:Gweriniaeth Pobl China]] [[da:Folkerepublikken Kina]] [[de:Volksrepublik China]] [[dv:ސީނުކަރަ]] [[et:Hiina]] [[el:Λαϊκή Δημοκρατία της Κίνας]] [[es:República Popular China]] [[eo:Ĉinio]] [[eu:Txinako Herri Errepublika]] [[fo:Kina]] [[fr:République populaire de Chine]] [[fy:Sina]] [[ga:Daon-Phoblacht na Síne]] [[gan:中華人民共和國]] [[gv:Deynphobblaght ny Sheen]] [[gd:Sluagh-Phoblachd na Sìne]] [[gl:China - 中国]] [[gu:ચીન]] [[zh-classical:中華人民共和國]] [[xal:Китдин орн-нутг]] [[ko:중화인민공화국]] [[hy:Չինաստանի Ժողովրդական Հանրապետություն]] [[hi:जनवादी गणराज्य चीन]] [[hsb:China]] [[hr:Kina]] [[io:Chinia]] [[ilo:China]] [[bpy:গণচীন]] [[id:Republik Rakyat Cina]] [[ia:China]] [[os:Китай]] [[zu:IShayina]] [[is:Alþýðulýðveldið Kína]] [[it:Cina]] [[he:הרפובליקה העממית של סין]] [[jv:Republik Rakyat Cina]] [[pam:Maldang Republika ning Tsina]] [[kn:ಚೀನಿ ಜನರ ಗಣರಾಜ್ಯ]] [[ka:ჩინეთი]] [[csb:Chińskô Lëdowô Repùblikô]] [[kk:Қытай]] [[kv:Китай]] [[kg:Sina]] [[ku:Çîn]] [[la:Res Publica Popularis Sinarum]] [[lv:Ķīna]] [[lb:Volleksrepublik China]] [[lt:Kinijos Liaudies Respublika]] [[hu:Kína]] [[mk:Народна Република Кина]] [[ml:ചൈന]] [[mr:चीन]] [[ms:Republik Rakyat China]] [[mn:Бүгд Найрамдах Хятад Ард Улс]] [[my:တရုတ်ပြည်သူ့သမ္မတနိုင်ငံ]] [[nah:Xina]] [[na:Tsiene]] [[nl:Volksrepubliek China]] [[nds-nl:Volksrippebliek China]] [[ne:चीन]] [[ja:中華人民共和国]] [[no:Folkerepublikken Kina]] [[nn:Folkerepublikken Kina]] [[nrm:Républyique du Peupl'ye d'la Chinne]] [[nov:Populen Republike de China]] [[oc:Republica Populara de China]] [[or:ଚୀନ]] [[ps:چين]] [[pms:Cin-a]] [[nds:Volksrepubliek China]] [[pl:Chińska Republika Ludowa]] [[pt:República Popular da China]] [[crh:Çin Halq Cumhuriyeti]] [[ro:Republica Populară Chineză]] [[qu:Runallaqta Republika China]] [[ru:Китай]] [[sc:Cina]] [[sco:Fowkrepublic o Cheenae]] [[sq:Kina]] [[simple:People's Republic of China]] [[sk:Čína]] [[sl:Ljudska republika Kitajska]] [[szl:Chińsko Rypublika Ludowo]] [[so:Shiinaha]] [[sr:Кина]] [[fi:Kiina]] [[sv:Kina]] [[tl:Republikang Popular ng Tsina]] [[ta:சீன மக்கள் குடியரசு]] [[te:చైనా]] [[tet:Xina]] [[th:ประเทศจีน]] [[vi:Cộng hòa Nhân dân Trung Hoa]] [[tpi:Ol Manmeri Ripablik bilong Saina]] [[chr:ᏥᎾ]] [[tr:Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti]] [[tk:Hytaý]] [[uk:Китайська Народна Республіка]] [[vec:Cina]] [[wo:Siin]] [[wuu:中华人民共和国]] [[ts:China]] [[yi:כינע]] [[yo:Orile-ede Agbajumo Olominira Shaina]] [[zh-yue:中華人民共和國]] [[cbk-zam:China]] [[bat-smg:Kėnėjės Liaudies Respoblėka]] [[zh:中华人民共和国]]