The Historical Context

China is the world’s oldest surviving civilization. It typically describes its history as a 5000 year long river – which is both a rich heritage that it is immensely proud of and a hindrance to change that it resents. For most of that history – at least since unification in 221BC under the First Emperor (of Terracotta Warrior fame) - China has been a sophisticated and indomitable empire. The Chinese name for the country to this day is ‘The Middle Kingdom,’ expressing their sense of pivotal importance in maintaining the balance of not just their nation but the entire universe.

This lofty view was shattered from 1840, when for more than 100 years China lost control over its land and its destiny, first to colonizing European powers, then to 14 years of brutal Japanese occupation and over a quarter of a century of civil war. China’s global humiliation resulted in the collapse of government, the disintegration of the country, the bankruptcy of the nation, and the untold suffering of the people.

When on 1st October 1949 Mao Zedong stood on top of the ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace’ (Tiananmen) and declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the people celebrated their liberation. Never again would China be broken apart by internal factions, nor controlled by foreign powers, nor governed by the Nationalists who had failed the populace so catastrophically. Mao shut the world out and set about a series of agricultural and industrial experiments in an attempt to feed and modernize the nation. The majority of these proved disastrous.

When Mao died in 1976, his old rival Deng Xiaoping changed tack, launching a process of ‘Reform and Opening Up’ to shift China towards a free market which he called ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.’ He also introduced the ‘One Child Policy’ to reverse the effects of Mao’s agrarian encouragement of large families.

Deng’s successor, Jiang Zemin, maintained the set course and put China back on to the world stage. In 1994 he allowed for international trading in the Chinese Yuan, pegging it to the US dollar. In 1997 and 1999 he presided over the return of Hong Kong and Macao to Chinese sovereignty, introducing the ‘one country, two systems’ approach. And in 2001, he brought China into the World Trade Organisation.

The current President Hu Jintao and his Premier Wen Jiabao aim to complete industrialisation by 2020, considering economic growth (and political stability) foundational to all other objectives in their 100 year plan. They do, however, recognise the need to begin addressing a wider range of issues now, including the environment, the disparity between rich and poor, and the cultural life of the nation. Hu’s stated goals are a Harmonious Society domestically and Peaceful Development internationally using a Scientific Development Concept approach