Ch. 7: China

Warm Up 1/10/14

• Which country is bigger, China or the US?• Which country is more urban, China or the

US?• Which country extends farther south?• Which country extends farther north?• Who is the current leader of China?

What is Communism?

• Economic System• Seeks to create a classless, moneyless, stateless

social order• This obviously has not been accomplished by

any of the “communist” countries• Accomplished through the common ownership

of the means of production rather than private ownership of free enterprise economies

China’s History

• China’s history dates back to 400,000 BC• 1839-1842 Opium War-War over trade routes

for Britain, India, through Hong Kong• 1856-Second Opium War—Beginning of

modern Chinese history, British, French, and Russian presence in China, Britain claims Hong Kong

• 1894-Sino-Japanese war over control of Korea, first Chinese loss to an Asian opponent

China’s History

• 1900 Boxer Rebellion—opposed foreign imperialism and Christianity

• 1921 Communist Party established in China• 1949 Founding of the People’s Republic of China• 1958 Great Leap Forward—Mao Zedong wants to move

China forward, agricultural collectivization• 1966 Cultural Revolution—enforced communism by

removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese Society

• 1972 Nixon visits China—ended 25 years of separation

China’s History

• 1979 One Child Policy• 1980 SEZs—Special Economic Zones• 1989 Tiananmen Square Uprisings—

Prodemocracy uprising• 1991 McDonalds comes to Beijing• 1998 Great Firewall of China• 2003 SARS Outbreak• 2008 Beijing Olympics

Recent Chinese-American Relations

• US and Japan became allies post WWII• US and South Korea become allies in the

1950s Korean War• US has played a role in protecting Taiwan• US involvement in Vietnam War• Tibet Question• 2000-US has the highest trade deficit with

China

The Pacific Rim

• Initially, Pacific Rim economy led by Japan—the “safe story”

• Now China is the emerging leader• Quickly buying and using natural resources• Largest trading partner of Japan and South Korea

(both of which would have been inconceivable 10-20 years ago)

• Operates in countries we do not (Myanmar, North Korea)

• Less human rights/environmental restrictions

So could there be a future Cold War with China?

• Causative Factors• China’s expansive

past/imperialistic present• Communist government• Poor human rights record• China’s demographics• Rising nationalism• Competition for raw

materials (oil)• Relations with Japan,

Taiwan, and North Korea

• Mitigating Factors• China does not seek to

export communism• Secular society• Shares US concerns

regarding terrorism• Opens its doors to

economic development• Has begun to settle some

economic disputes with neighbors

Differences and How to Avoid

• Differences between US/Soviet Union Cold War and US/China:– Intercultural vs. Intracultural

• How to avoid a cold war?– Deepen our connections—trade, science, culture

and education

China Crash Course

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUCEeC4f6ts