NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS CURRICULUM SUPPORT
Modern Studies
China in Change
[ACCESS 3]
The Scottish Qualifications Authority regularly reviews
the arrangements for National Qualifications. Users of
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reminded that it is their responsibility to check that the
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Acknowledgement
Learning and Teaching Scotland gratefully acknowledges this contribution to the National
Qualifications support programme for Modern Studies.
The publishers gratefully acknowledge permission from the following sources to reproduce
copyright material: map of China, reproduced with permission from the Central Intelligence
Agency; photograph of Mao Zedong reproduced with permission from marxists.org;
photograph of Deng Xiaoping, part of the IISH Stefan R Landsberger Collection,
http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/dxp.htm; diagram of the membership of the Communist Party
of China, reproduced with permission from http://www.chinatoday.com; image of Chinese
women and ‘transplant rice’ reproduced with permission from Paul and Bernice Noll,
http://www.paulnoll.com; photograph of Yahoo headquarters sign © PA Photos Limited;
photograph of Taoist temple © Carmela & Martin Klughardt, http://www.easternsamar.de; text
about internet dissidents reproduced with permission from Amnesty International,
http://www.amnesty.org.
Every effort has been made to trace all the copyright holders but if any have been inadvertently
overlooked, the publishers will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements at the first
opportunity.
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2007
This resource may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes by educational
establishments in Scotland provided that no profit accrues at any stage.
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CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2007
Contents
Foreword
5
Chapter 1: Setting the scene
Geography
History
Life in China
6
6
8
11
Chapter 2: Communism in China
Mao’s teachings
Capitalism
14
14
16
Chapter 3: Revolution in China
The People’s Republic of China
The leadership of Chairman Mao
Change in leadership
18
18
21
22
Chapter 4: The Communist Party of China
The Party
Opposition
Governing China
National politics
24
25
26
28
30
Chapter 5: Living standards in China
Urban and rural inequalities
Social inequalities
34
34
36
Chapter 6: Economic changes
Working for wealth
What does China have to offer?
Agricultural economic changes
46
46
50
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CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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CONTENTS
Chapter 7: Problems with China’s economic boom
The experiences of China’s people
Government response to economic inequalities
Fast food giants in China
55
55
58
60
Chapter 8: Human rights in China
Areas of concern
The Tiananmen Square demonstrations
62
62
73
Further resources
77
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CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2007
FOREWORD
Foreword
This unit of work has been developed in line with national guidelines
for Access 3 and with extension activities linked to Intermediate 1
Modern Studies.
Pupils are encouraged to develop their revision process by identifying
five key points that they have learned during each section. These points
can be completed individually or as part of a group.
The use of a ‘Timeline’ has also been encouraged as this will allow
pupils to identify with the significant changes that have taken place in
China since the start of the 20th century.
CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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SETTING THE SCENE
Chapter 1: Setting the scene
In order to understand how powerful China is we have to ‘set the
scene’. This can be done by looking at the location of the country (its
geography); the history of the country, and what it is like to live in
China today.
Geography
Based on area of land, China is the fourth largest country in the world
and shares borders with 14 different nations including India, North
Korea and Russia. The capital city of China is Beijing. This translates
as ‘Bei’ meaning North and ‘Jing’ meaning Capital. China is governed
from Beijing by Hu Jintao, the current President.
While China is only the fourth largest country in the world, it has the
largest population with over 1.3 billion people, living on average to an
age of 71 years (male) and 74 years (female). The main language is
Mandarin Chinese and the unit of currency is the Yuan. The longest
river is the Yangtze, which is 5,800 kilometres long.
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SETTING THE SCENE
Activity 1
Using the map below, name four countries that have borders with
China.
www.enchantedlearning.com
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SETTING THE SCENE
History
China is one of the oldest countries in the world and has a written
language that dates back over 6,000 years. The ancient Chinese thought
that they were in the centre of the world and so named the country
‘Middle Kingdom’. The Chinese word for ‘Middle Kingdom’ is
‘Zhongguo’.
China’s highly developed people were responsible for many inventions
such as paper, gunpowder, porcelain and silk. For hundreds of years,
China traded the silk it produced with much of Europe.
Activity 2
Copy and complete the factfile on China
Capital:
President:
Size of country:
Population:
Main language:
Currency:
Life expectancy:
Longest river:
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CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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SETTING THE SCENE
Why did China not modernise?
While the main countries in Europe such as Britain and France
continued to develop during the 15th century, China did not. The
Emperors who ruled China did not want their people to have more
power and so China fell behind Europe in trade.
Activity 3
Using a dictionary, find the meaning of Emperor.
Mao takes control
In 1911 the last Emperor of China was removed from power. In the
years that followed, many other important individuals tried to take
control of the country and rule it. Then in 1949 Mao Zedong took
control with his supporters and renamed the country The People’s
Republic of China.
MAO TOOK
CONTROL OF CHINA
EASILY
Li Peng, Party member
CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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SETTING THE SCENE
Activity 4
Read again the paragraph ‘Mao takes control’. Copy one sentence that
shows that Li Peng is not telling the whole truth.
Activity 5: Investigation
Li has given a biased or exaggerated point of view.
(a)
Using a dictionary find the definition of ‘bias’ and
‘exaggeration’.
(b)
Why do you think that these words are important in Modern
Studies?
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SETTING THE SCENE
Life in China
Life in China is different from life in Scotland. The information below
describes five features of Chinese life.
Names
In China individuals place the family name first. For example in the
name Mao Zedong, Mao is the surname. Chinese women keep their
maiden name when they marry; it is only the child that takes the
father’s name. Most families consist of only one child due to
government regulations.
Writing
The Chinese do not use an alphabet, but characters. These characters
can be altered to make different words.
Education
Attending school is compulsory for all children. However, many
children in the countryside fail to obtain a proper education and many
girls fail to attend school at all. In general, children start school at six
years old and complete nine years of education. Some children many
also attend ‘kindergarten’ or nursery.
Holidays
There are many official festivals and holidays in China including: New
Year Day, Chinese New Year (three days), Children’s Day, Army Day
and National Day. There are no religious observation days as the
practice of any religion is not encouraged.
Recreation
Hobbies can vary from traditional Chinese activities to those that are
more familiar to us. For example older people can be seen doing Tai
Chi Chuan in parks; younger people play pool outdoors;
people play table tennis and football, and in the countryside
people watch travelling street theatre and other open -air
shows. Many individuals also keep goldfish as pets as they
are supposed to be lucky.
CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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SETTING THE SCENE
Activity 6
Using the information on page 11, complete the table below showing
life in Scotland compared with life in China.
Names
Scotland
First name and then
surname
e.g. Jim Smith
Writing
Education
Holidays
Recreation
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CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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China
SETTING THE SCENE
Activity 7
Internet investigation 1
Go to www.mandarintools.com
Click on Chinese Namer
Follow the instructions to obtain a name in Chinese.
Internet investigation 2
Go to www.enchantedlearning.com/asia/china
Go to the Write Chinese Numbers printout and the English-Chinese
Number Sheet.
Print these sheets and practise writing Chinese numbers.
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COMMUNISM IN CHINA
Chapter 2: Communism in China
Mao’s teachings
Throughout time, the majority of the people of
China have experienced much poverty. The wealth
of the country was held by a small group known as
the bourgeoisie or middle class. Eventually, the
peasants and workers, who made up the majority
of the population, stood up to the bourgeoisie.
They tried to force the bourgeoisie to share the
money and property they had with poorer groups
in the country.
As expected, the bourgeoisie fought long and hard
to stop the poor peasants and workers from taking
Mao Zedong
their fortunes. However, the peasants and workers
were too powerful and eventually took control of China. As their new
leader, Mao promised that everyone would now be equal: poverty
would no longer be a problem.
After so many years of unfair rule by emperors and the middle class,
the Chinese people were excited by Mao’s ‘ideas’. These ‘ideas’ or
‘teachings’ can also be known as an ideology. The ideology that Mao
used was called Communism.
Activity 1: Match the heads and tails
14
Workers
The rich or middle class
Peasants
Members of the Communist Party
Bourgeoisie
An lower class group
Communists
An employee, not a manager
CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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COMMUNISM IN CHINA
What is an ideology?
Ideology:
A set of ideas about how a
country should be run
Communism:
This ideology relates to
everyone in a country being
equal
Activity 2
Copy the diagram above to give the meanings of ideology and
Communism.
Activity 3: Discussion
Can you find another two Communist countries using the hints below?
(a)
(b)
This country has a capital called Havana and produces cigars .
This country has China on one side and South Korea on the other.
CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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COMMUNISM IN CHINA
Capitalism
The other main ideology that countries follow is the opposite to
Communism and is known as capitalism.
The ideas here focus on some people being rich and successful, while
others remain poor.
Activity 4
Look at the three flags below. Can you identify the three Capitalist
countries?
www.wikipedia.com
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COMMUNISM IN CHINA
Activity 5: Evaluation
Source 1
Communism is very popular in China as everyone is seen as equal.
People in China can vote for one political party called the Communist
Party of China (CPC). This party controls the country.
Source 2
The capitalist system is better than the communist system. Everyone
has the opportunity to be successful if they work hard. In the UK for
example people have the opportunity to vote for many different
political parties.
Using Source 1 and Source 2, identify one difference between the two
sources.
Begin with:
Source 1 states that there is:
Source 2 states:
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REVOLUTION IN CHINA
Chapter 3: Revolution in China
The People’s Republic of China
Mao Zedong lead the revolution in China. This revolution resulted in
the People’s Republic of China being set up in October 1949.
A revolution is when a strong group of people who are unhappy
with the way the government has been treating them takes control
of the running of that country.
Mao Zedong (meaning ‘to shine on the east’) was born on 26 December
1893 in the Hunan province. Mao had always been involved with
revolutionary groups and so it was not surprising that he was one of the
main founders of the most important political organisation in China:
The Communist Party of China (CPC).
The CPC was founded in 1921 and has remained in control of China
since the 1949 October revolution. As the leader, or General Secretary,
of the party, Mao became a strong and feared leader both within the
country and throughout the world until his death in 1976. Mao was seen
as a ‘god’ in the eyes of the Chinese people and that is why his body
lies preserved for all to see in a mausoleum by Tiananmen Square in
Beijing.
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REVOLUTION IN CHINA
Activity 1
The Chinese flag was a symbol of the revolution and the five stars
represent the different groups involved.
(a)
Copy and complete using the words below:
Capitalists
Peasants
Bourgeoisie
Workers
Communists (large star)
www.wikapedia.com
(b)
What is a revolution?
(c)
What does the name Mao Zedong mean?
(d)
What is the main political party in China and when was it formed?
(e)
Where does Mao’s body lie for all to see?
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REVOLUTION IN CHINA
Activity 2: Timeline
As a group you may wish to construct a timeline to show the main
events in China’s history from Mao’s birth in 1893 until the present
day.
This activity can give you a picture of the many changes that have
taken place and the timeline can be developed as the unit progresses.
Activity 3: Internet investigation
Go to www.enchantedlearning.com/aisia/china/org
Click on China map/quiz.
Try and answer the questions.
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REVOLUTION IN CHINA
The leadership of Chairman Mao
Mao was a strong and feared leader as he was both leader of the CPC
and President of China. The people of China called him ‘Chairman
Mao’.
Mao’s achievements
Pride was restored amongst the
Chinese people.
Better educational facilities.
Better health services.
A strong army developed.
Removal of political enemies
within the CPC.
Mao’s mistakes
Not enough food produced.
Millions dying of starvation.
People forced to leave university
and follow Mao.
Thousands tortured for not
believing in Communism.
Activity 4
(a)
Describe four features of Mao’s leadership.
(Two good points and two bad points.)
(b)
Mao also encouraged the development of nuclear weapons.
Why would this be important to the people of China?
Activity 5: Internet investigation
The Great Leap Forward, The Cultural Revolution and The Little Red
Book were important parts of Mao’s leadership.
Choose one of the above and try to find at least three facts about it.
Report back to the class/group about your findings.
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REVOLUTION IN CHINA
Change in leadership
Who was Deng Xiaoping?
Date of birth:
Birth place:
Family background:
Education:
Connection to CPC:
Positions of power:
Famous words:
Died:
22 August 1904
Sichuan Province
Very wealthy family
Studies in Paris and Moscow
Joined (and first met Mao)
in 1931
Assistant to Mao; Leader of
China 1978–97
‘to get rich is glorious’
1997
Deng Xiaoping
Deng became the leader of China after Mao died in 1976.
Deng’s greatest achievements
Deng was a different leader to Mao and opened up China to the world
as a source of labour. Deng modernised agriculture (farming and crop
production), industry (clothing and textile factories), and scientific and
technological research (computers and defence systems).
Deng was friendly with the leaders of certain rich countries such as the
USA, UK and Japan and encouraged them to recommend companies to
build factories to produce goods in China.
The end of the road for Deng
Lots of people became richer when Deng was leader. However, many
people also lost their jobs and became poor at the same time. Many
people in China were unhappy with the way the country had changed:
China was no longer equal.
Students in Beijing were also unhappy about their lack of freedom of
speech. This unrest resulted in a massive demonstration outside Deng’s
official home in Tiananmen Square in April 1989, when many
thousands of demonstrators were killed on Deng’s orders.
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REVOLUTION IN CHINA
Activity 6
Imagine you are a journalist writing for a small newspaper at the time
of Deng’s death in 1997. You are trying to write an article describing
the life of Deng Xiaoping for the people in your village.
Your article should include the following:



Name of newspaper
Information about the life of Deng from his birth to his death
Deng’s greatest achievements.
It could also include:


Weather report: local and national weather
Adverts for shops, items you can buy or tours to see Mao’s body in
Beijing.
Key facts
Choose five points you have learned and note them down as points of
revision. You can complete this individually or as part of a group.
You could create a Word or Excel file to list points for revision
throughout the unit.
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Chapter 4: The Communist Party of China
There is only one political party with any power in China. This par ty is
known as the Communist party of China (CPC).
The structure of the Communist Party of China
General Secretary
Leader of the party
Politburo
(Senior Officials)
National Party
Officials
Increasing
Power
Local Party
Officials
Ordinary Party
Members
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Increasing
Numbers
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
The Party
Founded in 1921 the CPC is the most powerful organisation in China.
In 2006 it had over 70 million members. The power within the party is
held by the General Secretary and the elected officials known as the
Politburo. The current General Secretary is Hu Jintao.
While the CPC is the largest political party in the world, it only permits
five per cent of the population to be members of the party. An
individual can apply for membership at 18 years of age. To be
considered for membership the individual must have two named
sponsors and complete a trial or probationary period.
The total number of CPC members has increased in recent years.
Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
June 2002
December 2005
Total number of CPC
members
60.417 million
61.877 million
63.221 million
64.517 million
65.749 million
66.355 million
70.80 million
www.chinatoday.com
Aims of the CPC
Being a member of the party means that you must follow its aims:




To
To
To
To
uphold the communist line
seek truth
serve the people
respect the hierarchy of the party structure
Although it appears that ordinary party members have no say in the
CPC, they are actually very important. The ordinary or ‘grassroots’
members (as they are often known) are the eyes and the ears of the
party at a local level. This means that these members are responsible for
recruiting suitable new members and for ensuring that party ideas and
policies are always upheld.
CHINA IN CHANGE (ACCESS 3, MODERN STUDIES)
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Opposition
In terms of power and control in China, the CPC has no real opposition.
There are eight other political parties in China, such as the China
Democratic League, but membership of these parties is small compared
to that of the CPC. These parties are ‘non-communist’, but are not a
threat to the CPC as they are all in some way associated to it.
Activity 1
(a)
Copy the pyramid showing the Structure of the CPC.
(b)
Using the table on page 25 draw a bar graph to display the
membership of the CPC.
(c)
Copy and complete the paragraph below using the words in the
word box.
Communist
size
Hu Jintao
population
General Secretary
President
The __________ Party of China was founded in 1921. It has grown in
__________ and now has around 70 million members. While
membership is growing it can never reach above five per cent of the
__________. The most important person in the party is the
____________ ____________. At the present time this position is filled
by ____________. Aside from being General Secretary, Hu is also the
____________ of China.
(d)
Describe how to become a member of the CPC.
(e)
What are the aims of the CPC?
(f)
Who are the ‘grassroots’ members and why are they important?
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Activity 2: Intermediate 1 Extension
‘Population increases in
China have had no effect
on membership of the
CPC as no more than 5%
of the population can be
members.’
View of Cadre Wong
Using the table on page 25 provide evidence to show that Cadre Wong
is incorrect.
Key facts
Complete five key revision points on the CPC.
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Governing China
It is very difficult to separate the government in China from the
Communist Party. The reason for this is because many CPC officials
hold the important positions of power in both local and national
government. As China is so large, the local level officials are the most
important for the day-to-day running of each village.
Running and governing a village
In the countryside (or rural areas), village leaders are important sources
of information for the ordinary citizens of China. Village Committees
are responsible for:
1.
Providing social services such as care and social work
2.
Maintaining public order
3.
Giving out important national information
4.
Promoting the ‘ideology’ of Communism
The elected CPC officials who are on each Village Committee
(‘grassroots’ members) keep a watchful eye on local villagers and
ensure that the Communist way of thinking remains strong.
Activity 3
Imagine that you are advertising for a new Village Committee member.
Design a poster describing what your duties may be.


28
Try using www.mandarintools.com to get a Chinese name to put on
your poster.
Remember your committee member must be a member of the CPC
and over 18 years.
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Activity 4
Look at the statements below from www.chinaelections.org
 Shaanxi Province: more women elected as directors of village
committees.
 Hong Kong: 67.08% turnout in village elections.
 Many villages are left with no representatives .
 Inner Mongolia ‘Outlook’ magazine in Beijing uncovers evidence of
bribery through food for elected officials.
 Candidates are allowed to be nominated by individual villagers and
not just CPC officials.
 In cities (urban areas) Neighbourhood Committees are given more
status.
(a)
Copy two statements that show that the political system is
improving in China at a local level.
(b)
Copy two statements which show that politics is not fair in China.
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
National politics
The following two interviews can be used as role plays or built into a
radio or television interview with advertisements and a weather
forecast.
They can also be used as a starting point for further investigations
about China and its politics.
Interview 1
Mae (interviewer): Hello Wen Jiabao. What is your
official title?
Wen: My official title is ‘Premier’. This title means
that I am head of the government of China – similar to
your Prime Minister.
Mae: Who do you work with?
Wen: I work with the President, Hu Jintao, who is the most powerful
man in China. I also work with members of the Cabinet and members of
the National People’s Congress.
Mae: What is the National People’s Congress?
Wen: The National People’s Congress is a group of around 3,000
individuals who work with me and the President to pass new laws for
the people of China. These people are similar to your UK Members of
Parliament. The NPC only meets for two weeks each year in Beijing. It
is also responsible for deciding who is President of China.
Mae: How can you take part in politics in China?
Wen: In China the Communist Party and the government are very
closely connected. If you are over the age of 18 you have the ability to
vote in all elections. Most people turn out to vote in China, especially
in National Elections. In July 2006, 96 per cent of voters turned out to
vote in elections for the National People’s Congress.
Mae: Is it true that prisoners have been voting in recent elections?
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Wen: Yes. In Shanghai, prisoners in the Qingpu prison were given the
opportunity to vote in recent elections. Not all prisoners had the
opportunity – only those who were being held for minor crimes.
Mae: As ‘Premier’ which event are you most looking forward to?
Wen: China is the host nation of the 2008 Olympics. This is going to be
very exciting for China and will show how successful our country is. I
am looking forward to China being seen by the many tourists who will
come because of the Olympics.
Mae: Thank you for your time.
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Interview 2: Who is Hu Jintao?
Michael: Have you lived in China all of your life?
Hu: Yes, over 60 years now! I was born in the Anhui
Province in 1942.
Michael: When did you become President of China?
Hu: I was officially installed as president on 15 March 2003.
Michael: Who was the President before you?
Hu: I took over the presidency from Jiang Zemin. Jiang had been preside nt
since 1997.
Michael: Who decided that you would be President?
Hu: The National People’s Congress. The individuals at this Congress are
voted for by the people of China.
Michael: Do you have another title, apart from President?
Hu: Yes, I am also the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.
I have had this title since 2002.
Michael: Having those two titles must make you very important!
Hu: Yes it does. However, I have many people who advise and help me
with my job. I do not run China alone.
Michael: You are well known for ‘catchy’ slogans. Can you give an
example of them?
Hu: I assume you mean the ‘Three Do-wells Principles’ and the ‘Eight Dos
and Don’ts’. All of the ‘slogans’ have meanings to the people of China. For
example the ‘Three Do-wells’ encourage people to look after the interests of
the country.
Michael: Thank you for talking with me today. I wish you well in your
position.
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
Activity 5
Read the Case Study below.
I am 20 years old, live in Beijing and I hope to stand as an independent
candidate in the next elections to the Local People’s Congress. An
independent candidate is someone who is not supported by any political
party. I have been told that the government has agreed to independent
candidates standing for election in Beijing. This shows progress.
Unfortunately, there are still many elderly people in the area in which I
live. I think they will not vote for me because they see this as turning
their backs on the Communist Party, even though they know me.
‘Elections in China still continue to be unfair’
Give one piece of evidence from the case study that supports this and
one piece that shows it to be untrue.
Key facts
Using the Wen Jiabao and the Hu Jintao interviews select five ‘key
points’ for revision.
Activity 6
China is hosting the 2008 Olympics. Design a poster promoting the
Olympics in China.
Your poster may include:



Famous places to visit
Facts about the country
Places to stay
Use the internet to find the information you need.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Chapter 5: Living standards in China
Urban and rural inequalities
As China is so large, many differences or inequalities exist between
people who live in the cities (urban areas) and the countryside (rural
areas).
These inequalities are:


Social: education, housing, health and lifestyle.
Economic: wealth, employment and unemployment.
Activity 1
(a)
Draw a spider diagram of the social inequalities that exist in
China.
(b)
Draw a spider diagram of the economic inequalities that exist in
China.
Factfiles
Study the factfiles on the next page. They tell you about differences
that exist between a person living in the city in China and one living in
the countryside.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Susie
 Urban: Lives in the city of
Guangzhou.
 Age: 23
 Occupation: Studying business
at Beijing University.
 Housing: Lives in a private flat
which has been bought by her
father as a form of investment.
 Healthcare: Covered by private
medical insurance through her
father’s company.
 Food: Eats out a lot at the
weekend in local restaurants,
but likes fast food such as
McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza
Hut.
 Clothes: Buys clothes from any
good high street store.
 Free time: Likes surfing the
internet, and attending live
concerts in the city.
 Future: Hopes to obtain a
position with a new Chinese
record label as a researcher.
Hu
 Rural: Lives in the countryside
province of Xinjian.
 Age: 25
 Occupation: Working on a
neighbour’s farm and carving
wooden Buddhist statues.
 Housing: Lives in a small
wooden farmhouse with the
other member of his family.
 Healthcare: None available.
The nearest barefoot doctor is
based 10 miles away.
 Food: Food depends on the
climate and what has been
successfully grown.
 Clothes: Very few good
clothes.
 Free time: Fishing. Helps the
Buddhist monks.
 Future: To move to the city
and make some money and
then return to rebuild the
family farm.
Activity 2
‘A young person living in the countryside in China has the same
opportunities as a young person who lives in the city. Their lifestyle is
not really that different.’
Using the Susie and Hu factfiles, give two pieces of information from
each which show that their lifestyles are different.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Social inequalities
Area 1: Health
Before the People’s Republic of China was formed in 1949,
basic healthcare was very poor. After the uprising in October
the general health of the population began to improve as Mao
and his political allies realised that China would not become a
successful country with a population in poor health.
The ‘Iron rice bowl’ Scheme
If a member of your family worked for a government-owned industry,
benefits were given on top of your wages to improve your lifestyle (and
health) such as:




Free housing
Food vouchers
Clothing vouchers
Free healthcare
Unfortunately, as there are very remote areas in China healthcare could
not be improved everywhere – major inequalities developed between
rural and urban areas.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Rural health (Countryside)
Urban health (Cities)
Healthcare has always been very
basic in farming areas. Many
farmers and peasants have a poor
quality of life and die at a young
age.
In the cities ‘barefoot doctors’ do
not exist anymore. Medical
treatment is now so sophisticated
in these areas that many hospitals
run as profit-making
organisations.
The problems of health in rural
areas have built over time. Since
the late 1960s there has been a
severe shortage of trained doctors
and nurses in the countryside.
Mao’s solution was to provide
‘barefoot doctors’. These people
received six months’ training in
medical practices and then
travelled around the countryside to
provide basic healthcare.
Wealthy businessmen and women
have private medical insurance or
can afford to pay for the treatment
required. These people can also
afford to eat better and join
private fitness centres.
However, even within this group
many struggle to pay for
medicines as many doctors
prescribe the most expensive drugs
in order to bring more money in to
the hospitals.
Problems with care
Chinese medical care has the following basic problems:







Not enough nurses
11 million bedridden elderly people
Urban and rural inequalities
Spread of AIDS
Unwanted pregnancies
‘Barefoot doctors’ in areas such as Mongolia
Poor care for those who cannot afford to pay.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Activity 1: Intermediate 1 Extension
What conclusions can be drawn about healthcare in China?
Using the information on pages 36 and 37, write four conclusions about
health in China.


A conclusion is a summary of the information given
The headings and sentences will help with the conclusions
The ‘Iron rice bowl’
This scheme tried to improve the lifestyle of people in China by
Rural health
People who live in the countryside do not have access to good
Urban health
In the cities Chinese people have access to better
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Problems with care
There are many immediate healthcare problems which face the
government such as
Activity 4: Discussion
Look at the pictures of the two Chinese women below.


The first picture shows rural women workers
The second picture shows urban factory workers
As a group discuss the types of health problems the women may f ace in
each job.
You could create a PowerPoint presentation of your findings.
www.paulnoll.com
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Activity 5
Using the words in the relevant boxes fill in the missing words to
complete the paragraph.
HIV and AIDS in China
AIDS
education
million
blood
fight
profit
China
injecting
citizens
media
__________ has become a real problem in modern day __________.
The government has now realised it needs to __________ the spread of
AIDS by addressing the problem in the __________. This was first
attempted on World AIDS Day on 1 December 2002. The spread of
AIDS has increased quickly in China because of a lack of __________.
For example in the province of Henan many __________ were infected
with the HIV virus because of contaminated __________ being sold for
a __________ and needles being reused. On top of this AIDS has
spread because of the increase in __________ drug users. It is estimated
that over one and a half __________ people in China are living with the
AIDS virus.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Area 2: Education
In most cases children in China are expected to complete
nine years of education. A child begins primary school at
six or seven years old and spends six years there, before
moving on to a junior secondary for three years.
6 years old
Primary
School
13 years old
Junior
Secondary
Compulsory
Education
16 years old
Technical School
or College
19 years old
Further
Education
(University)
Curriculum
The school curriculum is very similar to the Scottish curriculum with
pupils studying language, mathematics, science and social subjects.
Chinese children also learn moral education. This subject looks at
respect for the country, the law and for society in general.
However, there are great inequalities between the urban education
system and the rural education system. This problem has been made
worse as too much money has been invested in universities and not
enough in schools nationwide.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Urban education
Rural education
Education in big cities such as
Beijing is far better than the
provision of education within
other cities. However, money and
the modernisation of schools is a
big problem everywhere. Many
city schools have been asked to
rent out any spare space they have
to private businesses. Some city
schools have been known to rent
space to a taxi fleet, a market and
even to groups of gamblers. As a
result of this ‘space-renting’
agreement many city schools are
know as ‘sparrow schools’ as
children have no space to be
educated due to private businesses
occupying the grounds.
Overcrowding is a serious health
and safety issue for these
children.
In some of China’s rural areas a
child may have less than $1 spent
on their education per year. On top
of this many rural schools have
unqualified teachers, very poor
school maintenance and increasing
class sizes due to the lack of
teachers. These problems have
resulted in many rural schools
being used as child labour camps.
In Guangdong there are 96
‘sparrow schools’ in its main city
of Guangzhou. In these schools
children have nowhere to play and
have to either take it in turns to do
morning exercise or simply wiggle
their toes behind their desks to
popular music.
Children have been assembling
toys, producing crafts or
working in local mines. Several
children were killed in the Jiangxi
province as an accident occurred
when the children were
assembling fireworks for a local
business. The situation in the
countryside has become so
extreme that many parents are
paying for every aspect of their
child’s education, when it is
supposed to be free.
The movement of workers from
the countryside to the city brings
more children to be educated,
resulting in further overcrowding.
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Activity 6: Intermediate 1 Extension
Using the information in the table on page 42, list three disadvantages
of the:
(a)
Urban system of education
(b)
Rural system of education
Activity 7
Where are you most likely to receive the best education and why?
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LIVING STANDARDS IN CHINA
Area 3: Housing
Housing is another area of concern. Rural housing is
very basic and not wind and water tight. There are
vast differences within the city areas, with some
people living in large detached houses with grounds
and others living in cramped conditions in buildings
near to factories.
The two pieces of information below look at housing standards in
China.
Source 1
Housing has changed for the better in China. Many traditional houses
have now been replaced with multi-storey flats.
In Tibet many new flats have been built next to the old stone
blockhouses, while in Mongolia many new wood and brick houses are
under construction.
The areas surrounding the cities have also saw new housing
developments with major new ‘westernised’ homes being built and
people having the money to buy them.
Overall, housing has greatly improved in both urban and rural China.
(View of Chinese Politician)
Source 2
Poor housing is still a problem for the people of China. A large
majority of people cannot afford the new types of housing available in
both the city and the countryside.
In rural areas some peasants may live on a ‘kang’. This is a platform of
loose clay or bricks with a little stove. Other country people can be
found living in straw homes.
The cities are the most problem areas as people do not have the money
to buy the new expensive ‘westernised’ homes. Many people who have
moved to the cities (migrants) live in overcrowded condition s. There
are still areas for improvement in housing in China.
(View of human rights worker)
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Activity 8: Intermediate 1 Extension
Sources 1 and 2 give different views about housing in China. Identify
two differences about housing and try to put them into your own words.
The structure below may help you.
In Source 1 it says that housing has …
According to Source 2, housing has …
Activity 9
As well as completing five key facts for revision from this chapter,
your class could construct a revision wall.
Look at the example below.
Revision Wall
Kangs
Sparrow
schools
Iron rice
bowl
Barefoot
doctors
6 years start
school
This task can be extended to produce a revision display. The wall could
also include Economic Changes, covered in the next chapter.
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
Chapter 6: Economic changes
Working for wealth
‘To get rich is glorious’ (Deng Xiaoping)
With these words Deng is saying that there is no shame in
having wealth through hard work.
Activity 1
Copy the following word bank relating to economic changes





Economic
Enterprise
Incentives
Investment
Pool of labour
–
–
–
–
–
relating to money
to start something new
help through grants of money
relates to the start up of new businesses
people to be in the workforce
Investment
Deng encouraged large businesses to invest in China and use the people
and location of the country to make money for both China and
themselves. A system where everyone has a chance to develop a
business is known as ‘free enterprise’.
The companies in Activity 2 on the next page are some of the types of
businesses which have invested in China in recent years. The majority of
these companies have come from capitalist countries and are happy to
invest in China because of:





46
government incentives
a large pool of labour
a new market in which to sell goods and services
lower wage levels
free land to build factories.
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
Activity 2
Look at the scrambled names of the six companies who have invested
in China. Can you unscramble them?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
LACCCOA
CDMOANSLD
MIB
LEGOGO
FCK
IZPAZ THU
Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
These are places on the southeast coast of China where goods can be
brought in (imported) to China easily. These areas are ideal locations
for factories to be built by foreign companies to produce goods to be
sold (exported) to the rest of the world. The SEZs are very important
for China – since Deng introduced them in 1979 they have brought in
money and created jobs.
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
Activity 4: Special Economic Zones and Trading
Using the information on page 47 and on
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn, answer the questions below:
(a)
On the map, find China’s five SEZs
Here are the first two letters of each to help:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sh
Zh
Sh
Xi
Ha
(b)
In what year did the government introduce SEZs?
(c)
In your own words, describe what Special Economic Zones are.
(d)
Look at the table below. Try and unscramble the names of China’s
five main trading partners.
Country
% Export
nohg gkon
21.8%
sttaes tniued
17.7%
pjana
20.4%
thsou kreoa
5.0%
rgmnaye
3.9%
others
31.2%
(Figures are from 2000)
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
(e)
Match the countries (page 48) to the percentages in the pie chart
below.
Countries receiving exports from China (in 2000)
5.0%5
3.9
3.9%
21.8%
21.8
20.4
20.4%
17.7%
17.7
(f)
Complete the activity again, using the table below.
The title of your pie chart is: Countries importing to China (in
2000).
Country
(g)
% Import
pjana
21.0%
twaian
11.7%
sttaes tniued
11.6%
thsou kreo
9.0%
nohg gkon
5.6%
others
41.1%
Copy the definitions below:
Import: to buy goods or services
Export: to sell goods or services
Key facts
Complete another five key points for revision.
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
What does China have to offer?
Identify from the diagram below the goods or services that China has to
offer to its trading partners:
Major industries in China
Beijing
Electronics
Consumer goods
Engineering
Metal production
Computers
Ürümqi
Metal production
Oil
Chemicals
Engineering
Lanzhou
Oil
Engineering
Xi’an
Chemicals
Engineering
Metal production
Textiles
Tianjin
Electronics
Consumer goods
Engineering
Metal production
Chemicals
Textiles
Shanghai
Metal production
Computers
Engineering
Electronics
Consumer goods
Wuhan
Metal production
Chemicals
Textiles
Consumer goods
Kunming
Electronics
Engineering
Consumer goods
50
HongKong
Financial
services
Chongqing
Metal production
Engineering
Chemicals
Consumer goods
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Guangzhou
Electronics
Consumer goods
Engineering
Chemicals
Textiles
Metal production
ECONOMIC CHANGES
Activity 4
Copy and complete the following sentences using the information on
page 50:
(a)
F_______ s_______ can mainly be found in Hong Kong.
(b)
Beijing and Shanghai are famous for c_______ and e__________.
(c)
T_______ production takes place in Wuhan and Tianjin as well as
the production of t_______.
(d)
The ability to drill for o____ makes Lanzhou, and Urumqi very
important to China.
(e)
Xi’an, Chongqing and Ürümqi are areas for m_______ and
e_______.
(f)
Guangzhou is China’s biggest industrial provider as e_________,
t_______, e_____________, c_______, t_______ and m_______
production can be found here.
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
The Three Gorges Project
The Three Gorges Project is a current example of economic change in
China.
Located at Yichang, the project is supposed to bring cheap electricity to
the people of China.
Read the sources on page 53, which describe the good and bad parts of
the project.
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
Source 1
Source 2
The Three Gorges Project is very
important for the people of China.
The project will produce clean
electricity and provide the same
amount of energy as 10 nuclear
power stations.
The Three Gorges Project is not
worth the time or the money that
has been invested in it. China has
other problems which need money
such as healthcare provision and
orphanages.
The construction site is at present
the biggest in the world and it has
been said that the dam, when
complete, will be visible from
outer space.
While electricity may be
important, over 1 million people
who live in the areas surrounding
this project have lost their homes.
This has happened because the
government has simply flooded
vast areas of land to keep the
project moving.
Most importantly, the Three
Gorges Project will save many
lives as over time more than
300,000 people have drowned due
to the Yangtze river bursting its
banks and flooding areas.
The summer rains should now
bring a good harvest to the people
of China without the fear of
flooding and loss of lives.
The elderly and the poor will not
benefit from the summer rains and
the harvest, because they now
have no money and nowhere to
live. Many will starve or die from
the cold conditions.
Activity 5: Intermediate 1 Extension
Source 1 and Source 2 give different views on the Three Gorges
Project.
State what these differences are. You should mention two differences in
your answer.
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ECONOMIC CHANGES
Agricultural economic changes
Agriculture: farming; the growth of crops and animals
Deng’s words ‘to get rich is glorious’ became important for all Chinese
people. Deng was very aware that most people in China were employed
in agriculture in some way and that for farmers to become rich they had
to be given help by the government.
This help was given by two means:
1.
2.
The Responsibility System
Price reforms
The Responsibility System
Deng encouraged farmers and their families to become responsi ble for
farming the land by taking out a contract with the government. This
contract allowed farmers full use of the land and to make decisions
about what they produced from the land they had. Most importantly
farmers who worked hard and delivered the amount of produce required
to the government could keep and sell any extra produce.
Price reforms
Deng increased the price paid to farmers for any crops that they grew .
This increase in price was to encourage farmers to work harder .
Farmers who chose to produce more than the required amount of
produce for the government could sell the extra to the government for
more money. The price reform system worked well as the people who
bought the crops did not need to pay any extra money for them – the
government made up the difference.
Activity 6
Describe two ways in which farmers in China benefited from Deng’s
economic changes.
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PROBLEMS WITH CHINA’S ECONOMIC BOOM
Chapter 7: Problems with China’s economic boom
There are now over 5 million millionaires in China. However, many
Chinese citizens have not experienced the benefits of the economic
boom and are worse off than they were a few years ago.
The experiences of China’s people
The people below live in Guangdong, China’s most prosperous province
and home to most millionaires.
Fang Dun Feng
I have always lived in the city. I work for a large shoe company making
mostly boots, which are sold in large stores in the UK and the USA. I
still live with my mother and father as I cannot afford to run a house of
my own. Things have become very cramped in the one-bedroom house
as my older brother, sister-in-law and their son have moved in. This is
because my brother lost his job and house when the ‘iron rice bowl’
cracked and the government factory closed down.
Peng Ang Li
I have no income since I lost my job in the textile factory. I am living
in overcrowded conditions and cannot provide for my family. I am
embarrassed by this. I have not been able to find another job as there is
now too much competition for jobs and my asthma has became worse
meaning that I find the dusty factory work difficult. My only income is
from selling stolen goods for a local gang leader who I owe money to.
Kong Shen Huan
I moved to the city from the country several years ago to find my
fortune. Unfortunately, the Hukou* has prevented me from finding it.
As all my personal details are in the small town where I was born I am
unable to get any medical care, receive benefits or further my education
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PROBLEMS WITH CHINA’S ECONOMIC BOOM
in the city. It is almost as if I do not exist! At the moment I am selling
corn snacks to city workers. I do not want to return to my home town as
there is very little food there. I have been told that the Hukou is to be
abolished in the future.
*The Hukou was designed by the Chinese government to stop citizens
from moving around the country.
Mao Angnai
I work in a toy factory. I came to the city 6 months ago from my farm
in Tibet. My family could not afford to feed me so I thought that I
would become a migrant worker in order to make money to send home.
I have found that I am working 16-hour shifts six days a week and still
have no money. Last week I was approached by a friend who suggested
that I should join her on a Saturday evening as an escort as I can make
one month’s salary from one evening’s work. I do not know what to do
as I know I will be selling my body for money. I also know that HIV
and AIDS are common among many sex workers.
Men Pinglan
I was forced to take early retirement from my job as a printer fo r a
small newspaper. Two young ambitious men bought the paper (they
were supported by the Communist Party as it showed free enterprise).
The new owners wanted to ‘modernise’ the newspaper by brin ging in
new computers and printers and so my skills were worthless. Now I
cannot find another job and I still have to support m y wife. I worry
about money constantly as I have very little income from state benefits
and little hope of a pension.
Bai Jiangsu
I still live in the countryside and feel that I am missing out on the
economic boom. I have a small area of land, which I farm to bring in an
income for my family. My wife has now become part of a township
village enterprise. To be involved with the enterprise you have to
produce some sort of handicraft or food product; our income has now
really improved. However, we still have very poor roads, no electricity
and out-of-date agricultural machinery.
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PROBLEMS WITH CHINA’S ECONOMIC BOOM
Activity 7
Using the stories on pages 55 and 56, complete the table:
Name
Reason for moving to city
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PROBLEMS WITH CHINA’S ECONOMIC BOOM
Government response to economic inequalities
Read the following answers to a questionnaire from a human rights
worker on the Chinese Government’s response to tackling social and
economic inequalities.
Question 1
How can the Chinese Government help migrant workers have a decent
standard of living?
Answer
The government has started to abolish the hukou which means that
migrant workers and their families will have better opportunities when
they move to find work.
Question 2
How has China encouraged good foreign investment?
Answer
China is now a member of the World Trade Organisation. This means
that most foreign investment should be regulated (more stable jobs with
better conditions). However, there is the worry that many small Chinese
family businesses will not be able to cope with the new global
competition and may collapse.
Question 3
Pollution is becoming a growing problem in China. What is being done
to address this new problem?
Answer
Many people are suffering from breathing problems and many crops are
failing because of pollution. The government has b egun clean-up
measures in some cities. For example, there has been a total ban on
leaded petrol cars in Beijing.
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PROBLEMS WITH CHINA’S ECONOMIC BOOM
Question 4
What is being done to help farmers with the provision of healthcare?
Answer
A new rural health insurance scheme is being offered to farmers where
farmers, the local government and the national government pay into the
scheme ($1.20 from each) to ensure there is a decent level of healthcare
provided.
Activity 8
Look back to the social and economic inequalities you have studied.
Can you think of another three questions that you would ask the
Chinese Government?
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PROBLEMS WITH CHINA’S ECONOMIC BOOM
Fast food giants in China
Three American fast food giants (McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut)
have been accused of treating their staff in areas of China very bad ly.
Information has emerged that:





In Guangzhou workers are receiving half of the legal minimum
wage. This means that they are being paid around 30p an hour.
Workers are not paid for their 15-minute break.
Some workers are working for 6 to 7 hours without a break .
Very few have contracts of employment.
In Guangdong part-time workers are not receiving the same rights as
full-time workers.
Many people are affected by this poor treatment. McDonalds has 790
restaurants and employs around 50,000 people in China; KFC and Pizza
Hut have over 1,600 restaurants and employ over 120,000 people
between them.
These fast food companies are not the only companies in China to take
advantage of poor Chinese people. The ‘boom’ in money and
investment in China has created many wealthy in dividuals, but some are
treated very unfairly, even by companies who should operate and know
better.
(Source: adapted from www.chinaelections.net/readnews)
Activity 9
(a)
Which three companies are involved in the scandal?
(b)
List two pieces of evidence which show that workers are being
treated unfairly.
(c)
How many people in total are employed by these three companies?
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PROBLEMS WITH CHINA’S ECONOMIC BOOM
Activity 10: Discussion
Why do you think companies like KFC and Pizza Hut take advantage of
people in China?
Do you think the government could do more to help them?
Does this type of scandal happen in the UK?
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Chapter 8: Human rights in China
As a citizen of a country we expect to feel secure and have protection
under the law. We also expect the right to make choices and voic e an
opinion. In the People’s Republic of China some people do not have
these basic freedoms. Many countries throughout the world have argued
that China should not be a member of the United Nations because of its
abuse of basic human rights.
Areas of concern
There are four ‘key’ areas for investigation:

The role of women and the one child policy

Crime and punishment

Religious freedom

Dissidents
Activity 1
Create a spider diagram of the four areas of investigation.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Investigation Area 1: The role of women and the one child policy
Women
Traditionally women have not been seen as equal to men in
China. In the past many young girls had to experience painful
foot-binding (breaking of feet at the age of 5) because it
stopped their feet from growing and it made the feet be seen
as more attractive. A popular Chinese saying in relation to the
role of women was:
‘A wife should be treated like a horse – driven and beaten regularly’.
Today women have more rights, but still face unfairness or
discrimination in everyday life:
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Women in rural areas are not allowed to attend school.
Many are sold as brides because they cost their families money.
Women are refused promotion in workplaces.
Women do not receive any benefits from the government if they are
divorced.
Women are forced to take contraception to ensure that they have
only one child.
Women are tortured and forced to have an abortion if a pregnancy is
not permitted by the village committee.
Activity 2
Women have always had
equal rights in China.
View of Zhu Tongshou
Using the information above give two pieces of evidence to prove that
Zhu is wrong.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
The one child policy
The one child policy was introduced in the Sichuan province in 1979.
The policy was designed to try and reduce China’s growing population.
To ensure that the policy was successful various conditions were set:
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Contraception is available everywhere.
Abortion is available at any time, even up to birth.
A child could only be born to a married couple with a permit.
National advertising campaigns were launched to remind people t hat
it is better to have only one child.
Advantages
Apart from reducing population growth, having one child has had its
advantages in relation to working life:
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Maternity breaks will occur only once in a woman’s career.
More women will be promoted because of fewer maternity breaks.
More women are in the workforce as a source of cheap labour.
Less money is spent on childcare costs.
More money is spent on the child.
Activity 3
Design an advert to promote the one child policy within China.
Disadvantages
To meet the conditions and reduce population growth , the Government
of China used many ‘unofficial’ measures:
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Many young women who were having routine operations were also
sterilised.
Single, pregnant women were forced to have an abortion and
tortured.
Families of women who were having an unauthorised baby were also
tortured.
Children born without a permit would not receive a name, passport
or an education.
Newborn babies have been killed (infanticide), especially girls.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Mei Ming
Unfortunately, Chinese families prefer to have a male child to keep the
family name alive and to help with manual work. In the countryside
girls are known as ‘maggots in the rice’ as they cost money to feed and
then they marry a young man and leave without paying anything back.
This bias has resulted in many females being aborted or killed at birth.
For those females who survive life is very bleak. Many are abandoned
or placed in orphanages where they are left to die. Today there are over
60 million girls in China called Mei Ming which means ‘no name’.
(Source: ‘The Dying Room’, Channel 4)
Activity 4: Extended Writing
Imagine you are a writer for a well-known magazine. You have just
visited China and have learned more about the Chinese Government’s
‘one child policy’.
Write a short article describing the main points and your opinions on
the policy.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Investigation Area 2: Crime and Punishment
Committing a crime is taken very seriously in China, no
matter how minor the offence. Over 60 crimes carry the
death penalty in China, ranging from basic theft to
hooliganism. On top of this, all suspected criminals are
seen as guilty until proven innocent and many receive
no legal representation in court. It is not unusual for a person to be
detained in prison for a long period of time without knowing why they
are there.
At the present time the most common crimes are:
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drug trafficking
gun-running
the sex trade
smuggling of people.
Many individuals who are not executed pay for their crime by being
‘re-educated through labour’ in a prison system known as the Laogai.
The Laogai
The Laogai is the group name given to the system of detention used in
China. The Laogai is made is made up of prisons, labour camps and
hospitals. The system has two key principles: hard labour and thought
reform.
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There are five groups of prisoners in the Laogai:
Detainees
People being
‘re-educated’
Young
Delinquents
Convicts
Groups of
prisoners
People sent to
forced labour
Everyday life in the Laogai is hard work. Prisoners work to pay for the
cost of keeping them there and have to meet production targets. If they
do not reach the targets, they can be beaten or electrocuted. Meals are
always very basic such as pumpkin soup and rice.
Activity 5
(a)
How many crimes carry the death penalty in China?
(b)
Give three examples of common group crimes.
(c)
What is the Laogai?
(d)
Copy the spider diagram of the five groups of prisoners in the
Laogai.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Activity 6: Intermediate 1 Extension
The death penalty is not
widely used in China
China.
Sandy Wong, CPC member
Using the information on page 66, give one piece of evidence to oppose
the view of Sandy Wong.
Activity 7: Investigation
Life in China is very different from life in Scotland.
(a)
List five points about the prison system in China.
(b)
Using text books, the internet or another source, list five points
about the prison system in Scotland
(c)
Which system is the fairest when it comes to the treatment of
prisoners? Give two reasons to support your answer.
Activity 8: ‘Wanted’ poster
Design a ‘Wanted’ poster.
You may wish to include:
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A photograph of the criminal
A reward
Date of last sighting
Type of crime he/she is wanted for
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Investigation Area 3: Religious freedom
China has no official religion and there is no religious instruction in
schools. Officially religion is not banned, but the preaching of religion
is not allowed in public life. The religious groups that exist must
operate within strict limits.
Religions
The traditional religions of the Han (ethnic) Chinese
are: Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. Many of
us know Taoism by one of its symbols and the words:
yin and yang. Yin relates to the earth, moon and
darkness. Yang relates to the air, sun and light.
Temples
Places of worship in China come in the form of temples. The temples
have either green or yellow roofs and are decorated with good luck
symbols such as dragons. The buildings are mostly painted red and
gold, which the Chinese associate with ‘joy’ and ‘heaven’.
www.easternsamar.de
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Religious persecution
Mao wanted China to be a nation where religion is not
part of everyday life and so many places of worship
were closed. Christianity was officially banned by
Mao. However, in present day China Christian
churches are now being built, but Western
missionaries are still banned.
There are also two non-Christian groups in China which believe that
they are treated unfairly by the Chinese Government because of strong
religious and spiritual beliefs: Tibetan Buddhists and the Falun Gong.
Tibetan Buddhists
 1949: the Chinese move into
Tibet and begin to try and wipe
out Tibetan traditions and
culture.
 1949–79: an estimated 1.2
million Tibetans died trying to
keep their independence.
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The spiritual and political
leader of Tibet is called the
Dalai Lama and he has been
forced to leave the land and
live in exile.
Many Buddhist monasteries
have been burned and many
monks and nuns tortured.
Over 7 million Chinese people
have been moved into Tibet to
ensure that the Chinese people
outnumber the Tibetans.
Tibetans now own only 25 per
cent of the businesses in Tibet.
Falun Gong
 1998: over 70 million Falun
Gong members are identified.
 1999: persecution of the group
begins. Many believe that this
is because membership has
increased so much that it is
now more than that of the
CPC.
 July 1999: Government
officially bans the group.
 Leaders state that they are
simply a peaceful group whose
practices improve health and
wellbeing.
 Some Chinese scientists have
said that there is no scientific
evidence that the practice is
good for an individual’s
health.
 Membership numbers have
now declined because of
persecution.
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Activity 9: Intermediate 1 Extension
Under the heading Religious persecution, give evidence from pages 69
and 70 to show ways in which the Chinese Government has tried to st op
religious/spiritual practices in the country.
The structure below may help.
Policy: Banning of Christianity
Reason for introduction:
Example of persecution:
Do the same for Tibetan Buddhists and the Falun Gong.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Investigation Area 4: Dissidents
A dissident is someone who speaks out against the government.
There are many types of dissident in China. Some want to change the
government, some want to practice their religion, while others want to
have uncontrolled access to the whole of the internet.
The democracy movement
Within China there are groups of individuals who believe that the
Communist Party and the Government of China are not allowing them
the rights and freedoms they are entitled to. This group of people is
known as the Democracy Movement.
In present day China members of any group that speaks out against the
government (such as the spiritual group the Falun Gong) can expect to
be tortured, bugged, followed or imprisoned for no real reason.
Activity 10
As a class or in groups complete the following:
(a)
Using a dictionary find the definition of democracy.
(b)
List at least four freedoms you have in a democratic country.
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The Tiananmen Square demonstration
Many people who continue to be arrested and speak out against the
government were part of, or remember, one of the most important
events in modern Chinese history: the Tiananmen Square
demonstration. This demonstration occurred when Deng was in power
and was very embarrassing for the CPC as it showed to the world how
strict the party was with the Chinese people.
Activity 11
Copy and complete the paragraph below using the words in the word
box.
bowl
demonstration
students
conditions
killed
thousands
connection
ordinary
Tiananmen
democratic
stopped
tortured
In May 1989 a ___________ occurred in the main meeting point in the
capital of China: Beijing’s ___________ Square. The demonstration
had been building up for a long time and involved Chinese
___________ and also ___________ workers. The students were
demonstrating because they wanted more ___________ values and
unveiled a statue called the ‘goddess of democracy’. The workers
wanted better working ___________ and did not want the benefits of
the iron rice ___________ to end. The Chinese authorities believed that
this embarrassing demonstration had to be ___________ and so the
People’s Liberation Army was sent in to remove the demonstrators.
Many ___________ of people were ___________ and the Government
___________ anyone who had any ___________ with the
demonstration.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Internet dissidents
In the past ten years a new group of dissidents has came to light using
modern technology to communicate its views. These people are called
internet dissidents.
These dissidents want to talk about democracy and the rights they
believe that they are entitled to using websites and chat rooms.
Below is a list of facts about internet use in China.
 120 million Chinese now have internet access.
 The Falun Gong’s site is now blocked.
 ‘The Great Firewall of China’ is the name given to the blocking
system.
 The first internet café licences were launched in 2003.
 Google has a special search engine in China called www.google.cn
 40 per cent of internet users are in the cities of Shanghai, Shenzhen
and Guangzhou.
 In 2002, 2,400 Beijing internet cafés were closed after 25 people
were killed in a fire in Lanjisu.
Activity 12: Internet poster
The internet is now a very important form of communication for most
people in the world. On your own or as part of a group, produce a
poster that gives four advantages and four disadvantages of internet
communication.
Activity 13: Discussion
Look at the facts above. In groups discuss why some of these facts
reduce an individual’s human rights.
Report back your reasons in a suitable way.
Key facts
Locate five key points for revision.
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Case studies of internet dissidents
Many people and groups of people have been persecuted or imprisoned
because they have tried to use the internet to express an opinion about
things such as ‘democracy’ or other ‘human rights’ issues.
The case studies below (provided by Amnesty International) give
examples of real people who have been persecuted in China.
Zili (28). Detained (along with Xu Wei, Jin Haike and Zhang Honghai).
Yang Zili, a Beijing based computer engineer, is the founder of the
internet site www.lib.126.com. He was detained on 13 March 2001.
Authorities have not given an explanation for his detention. Yang had
criticised the crackdown against the Falun Gong on his website. He also
used the site to teach people how to use proxy servers, a way to get
round censorship and access sites blocked by the Ministry of
Information Industry.
Honghai. Detained (along with Yang Zili, Xu Wei, and Jin Haike).
Zhang, a freelance writer and a founding member of the ‘New Youth
Study Group’, was detained in Beijing on 13 March 2001 for attempting
to ruin the government. He was reportedly targeted for his use of the
internet and his association with the study group, which focuses on
political reforms
Jinbo. Detained.
Wang was taken into custody on 6 May 2001 from his home in Lingyi,
Shandong for ‘libelling police on the internet’ but it is not clear what
his allegedly libellous remarks were.
(libel or libellous: making a statement which is not true; there is no
evidence)
Zhenyong (30). Arrested.
Wang, a former assistant professor of psychology at Southwestern
Normal University in Chongqing, Sichuan, was arrested on 2 June 2001
in Shenzhen for downloading and distributing by email promotional
material on the Falun Gong spiritual movement.
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HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
Activity 14
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Choose one of the internet dissidents.
Copy the Amnesty International Candle.
Write the dissident’s name on the candle and below it
add the person’s story.
Yahoo in China
In 2006, Yahoo admitted to providing
the Chinese authorities with information
that led to the eventual arrest and
imprisonment of journalist Shi Tao, who
is considered by Amnesty International
to be prisoner of conscience.
Read the Amnesty International article
on Yahoo’s actions in China at: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/chn310106-action-eng.
Activity 15
(a)
What has Yahoo admitted to?
(b)
What has happened to Shi Tao?
(c)
What is Shi Tao accused of?
(d)
Describe what a ‘prisoner of conscience’ is.
(e)
Do you think that Yahoo did the right thing?
Give one reason to support your view.
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FURTHER RESOURCES
Further resources
Charley, C, (1999) Country Fact Files: China, MacDonald Young
Books
Clarke, Cooney & Morrison, (2004) Ideology & Emerging Nations,
Pulse Publications
Clarke, Cooney & Morrison, (2004, second edition) Studies in
International Relations, Pulse Publications
Field, C, (2004) Nations of the World: China, Raintree Publishers
March, M, (2003) China: Country File, Franklin Watts
Websites
www.chinatoday.com
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
www.enchantedlearning.com/asia/china
www.mandarintools.com
www.school-clip-art.com
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