| − | '''China''' is the world's largest country by population, currently a totalitarian [[communist]] one-party republic.<ref>Gallagher, Mike (November 7, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/469429-seeking-truth-from-facts-on-china Seeking truth from facts on China]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved November 7, 2019.</ref> With thousands of years of continuous traditions, in three decades it has dramatically changed itself from a poor backward nation to a world power and is one of the world's top economies, only second next to the [[United States]]. It has emerged as a major regional power in East Asia, averaging over 9% economic growth per year since 1978 when it introduced a market-based economic system with some elements of capitalism, to replace its old socialism. Foreign businesses have flocked to invest in China, Americans and others rush to buy its cheap factory output, Chinese exports flooded the world. It has vast reserves of dollar holdings. China is modernizing its military, has joined numerous regional and international institutions, and plays an increasingly visible role in international politics. However, the paper statistics of China's growth hide the fact that it may have a weaker economy than it admits, as seen in the many "ghost towns", among other factors.<ref>Fong, Dominique (June 15, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-ghost-towns-haunt-its-economy-1529076819 China’s Ghost Towns Haunt Its Economy]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved June 15, 2018.</ref> | + | '''China''' is the world's largest country by population, currently a totalitarian [[communist]] one-party republic.<ref>Gallagher, Mike (November 7, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/469429-seeking-truth-from-facts-on-china Seeking truth from facts on China]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved November 7, 2019.</ref> With thousands of years of continuous traditions, in three decades it has dramatically changed itself from a poor backward nation to a world power and is one of the world's top economies, only second next to the [[United States]]. It has emerged as a major regional power in East Asia, averaging over 9% economic growth per year since 1978 when it introduced a market-based economic system with some elements of capitalism, to replace its old socialism. Foreign businesses have flocked to invest in China, Americans and others rush to buy its cheap factory output, Chinese exports flooded the world. It has vast reserves of dollar holdings. China is modernizing its military, has joined numerous regional and international institutions, and plays an increasingly visible role in international politics. However, the paper statistics of China's growth hide the fact that it may have a weaker economy than it admits, as seen in the many "ghost towns", among other factors.<ref>Fong, Dominique (June 15, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-ghost-towns-haunt-its-economy-1529076819 China’s Ghost Towns Haunt Its Economy]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved June 15, 2018.</ref> China is trying to overtake the US economy, and gained mainstream media praise for it. |
| | The nation is under the control of the [[Chinese Communist Party]], which encompasses mainland China, albeit with many border disputes. Since taking power in 1949, an estimated 60 million to 80 million people died from unnatural causes. This number exceeds the total number of deaths in both World Wars combined.<ref>''Commentary 7, On the Chinese Communist Party's History of Killing. ''Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.''<br>http://www.ninecommentaries.com/english-7</ref> The communist Beijing regime claims [[Taiwan]] as a province, but Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China and Taipei maintains its democratic sovereignty. [[Hong Kong]] was guaranteed its democratic sovereignty in a peace arrangement between the [[United Kingdom]] in 1997, and [[Macau]] was handed over by [[Portugal]] in 1999. Both territories are now [[Special Administrative Region]]s and have autonomy over local affairs. However, the autonomy has been eroded in recent years, particularly after the 2014 "Umbrella Revolution". In 2020, the CCP violated and abolished the international peace agreement guarantying Hong Kong's democratic sovereignty, and brought the formerly free people under control of the oppressive socialist and communist slave system. Since the year 1950, China has been illegally occupying the countries of [[Tibet]] and [[East Turkestan]]. | | The nation is under the control of the [[Chinese Communist Party]], which encompasses mainland China, albeit with many border disputes. Since taking power in 1949, an estimated 60 million to 80 million people died from unnatural causes. This number exceeds the total number of deaths in both World Wars combined.<ref>''Commentary 7, On the Chinese Communist Party's History of Killing. ''Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.''<br>http://www.ninecommentaries.com/english-7</ref> The communist Beijing regime claims [[Taiwan]] as a province, but Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China and Taipei maintains its democratic sovereignty. [[Hong Kong]] was guaranteed its democratic sovereignty in a peace arrangement between the [[United Kingdom]] in 1997, and [[Macau]] was handed over by [[Portugal]] in 1999. Both territories are now [[Special Administrative Region]]s and have autonomy over local affairs. However, the autonomy has been eroded in recent years, particularly after the 2014 "Umbrella Revolution". In 2020, the CCP violated and abolished the international peace agreement guarantying Hong Kong's democratic sovereignty, and brought the formerly free people under control of the oppressive socialist and communist slave system. Since the year 1950, China has been illegally occupying the countries of [[Tibet]] and [[East Turkestan]]. |