Chapter 10: China PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 1.What is the Population of China? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 1.What is the Population of China? • Over 1.3 billion people - 1/5th of the world’s population PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 2. Population Growth Rate = 1.1% 582 million in 1953 850 million in 1976 1.3 billion today • Rapidly growing population PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 3. Where do most of the Chinese people live? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 3. Where do most of the Chinese people live? • On the eastern side of China • 62% in rural areas and 38% urban • But a serious urbanization movement – migration (China Blue) PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 3. Where do most of the Chinese people live? • Why move to cities? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. Population is a serious issue for Chinese Policy makers. • 1965 – Mao said that an ever expanding population is a “good thing”. PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. Population is a serious issue for Chinese Policy makers.1974 – Mao denounced Pop. Control as more “Imperialistic Tools” to weaken developing countries PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. Mao’s successors realized the danger – pop. growth was consuming ½ of annual increase in GDP PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. In late 1970’s, new pop policy called “Two-Child Family” with gov’t services like birth control, education and abortions reduced birth rate PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. 1979, Deng Xiaoping sets out “One Child Policy” with incentives and penalties to limit families to 1 child. PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. “One Child Policy” incentives = encourage later marriages, free contraceptives, abortions and sterilization – more accepted in urban areas PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. “One Child Policy” Penalties = steep fines for more than 1 child and loss of privileges for violators PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. 1 Couple 1 Child • Explain • How did that work out for China? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 5. 1 Couple 1 Child • Pros: more stable pop. Growth • reduced fertility rate – • 1971 women had 5.4 kids on average and now in 2004 it was down to 1.7 kids • 21st century projection for decrease in population PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • • • • • 4. 1 Couple 1 Child = Cons: Rise in female infanticide Disproportionate # of males to females Harder for males to find wives Fewer sons to care for aging parents in traditional role PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 4. 1 Couple 1 Child Status Today: • Relaxed in rural areas but back in 2002 • Officially banned BUT NOT really as many local political leaders are still held accountable for the population in their area PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 5. What else has China done about its pop problems? • 2004 – banned selective abortions of female fetuses • BUT folks still want their boys! PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 5. What else has China done about its pop problems? Gov’t encouraged and sponsored contraception • 74% of women use it which is highest in Asia PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 5. Success? Maybe but still one baby is born every 2 seconds in China PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 6. Migration and China’s “Floating Population” • What is this? See China Blue video PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 6. Migration and China’s “Floating Population” • Large # of people moving from the rural areas / countryside to the big cities • From central and west to the east PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 6. Migration and China’s “Floating Population” • Why? Rapid reform era of economic development opens up jobs in factories AND modern agricultural practices reduce need for farm workers PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 6. Migration and China’s “Floating Population” • Gov’t Policy? Discourage migration – rule is that the floating people are NOT officially permitted to reside permanently in these towns and cities PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 6. Migration and China’s “Floating Population” • Gov’t Policy? Thousands of Tibetans cross into Nepal so the gov’t pressures Nepal to return these people and force them to stay in China PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 7. Question – Does China have a homogeneous population? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 7. Ethnic Groups • China has a homogeneous pop with 92% Han Chinese PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 7. Ethnic Groups • But 8% of population / over 100 million people are from 55 other ethnic groups like the Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Mongols, Tibetans, among others PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 7. Ethnic Groups • Policy: All nationalities are equal according to the law • The Constitution grants them the right of self-government but autonomy is very limited! PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 7. Ethnic Groups • Most minorities live in the “Autonomous” regions along the borders of China covering about 60% of China’s land area PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • • • • • 7. Ethnic Groups Mongols = near Mongolia Tibetans = in TAR Kazaks = along Kazakh Republic Uyghurs = in Xinjiang out west PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 7. Ethnic Groups • These groups have a long history of dissatisfaction with Chinese rule and want independence PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 7. Ethnic Groups • The Chinese government fears and opposes independence movements and uses the PLA to suppress expression of dissent PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 8. Languages – Official Lingo? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 8. Languages – Official Lingo? • Mandarin or standard Chinese • Many other dialects flow from Mandarin • Many other languages spoken by other ethnic groups PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 8. Languages – What is Pinyin? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 8. Languages – What is Pinyin? • Common written form of Chinese language accepted by groups • System of phonetic spelling as a way to increase literacy • It is required under law PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 8. Languages – In 2006, the govt forced 100 million people in Shanghai to use Mandarin as opposed to Shanghainese (Cantonese) language PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 8. Languages – In 2008, Hong Kong Minister of Education banned teaching in Cantonese because English speaking students did better in universities. PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – 1st – It is an issue as China was a communist regime which means atheism so religion was not tolerated PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – 2nd – Chinese Constitution protects freedom of religious belief • But no one may use religious activities to disrupt public order PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – Confucianism is a philosophy still in existence in China • It is a system of ethical conduct PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – Confucianism • Promotes peace and harmony and good morals with reverence for one’s ancestors, family and superiors PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – Daoism and Buddhism are also common place in China PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – It is difficult to find accurate numbers of people and their religious beliefs due to nature of communist regime PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – Some underground communities of Protestants and Catholics PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – What is the Falun Gong? • The Wheel of Law – established in 1992 with close to 100 million followers PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – What is the Falun Gong? • It is a quasi-religious movement based on traditional deep breathing exercises and Daoist and Buddhist practices PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – What is the Falun Gong? • So why do the Communist leaders want these people out of the picture? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 9. Religions – What is the Falun Gong? • Perceived antigovernment activities and positions so it was outlawed in 1999 • Many arrested and “reeducated” through labor camps or placed in mental hospitals PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 10. Urban – Rural Cleavages • Most econ growth takes place in urban eastern areas so increase in income gap between urban and rural peoples = called “Two Chinas”!!! PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 10. Urban – Rural Cleavages • This led to a divide in social and cultural lifestyles from urban to rural areas and a migration of people from farms to industrial centers PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 10. Urban – Rural Cleavages • This led to protests and dissent in rural areas over tax policies and corruption in government PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 10. Urban – Rural Cleavages • In 2006, PM Wen Jiabao set out policy of “New Socialist Countryside” to improve the rural economy and slow down migration of people (TVE’s) PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 11. Education • What is the Literacy Rate in China? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 11. Education • What is the Literacy Rate in China? 90.9 % • Is this a good number? PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 11. Education is controlled by the Ministry of Education • Average 6.2 years of ed. But goal was upped to 9 years by 2000 PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 11. EDUCATION – • free primary ed for five years at age 7 • Then 5 years of secondary ed from 12 to 17 • Attendance rates drop from 99% for primary to 80% for higher levels PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 11. EDUCATION – • Free higher ed was abolished in 1985 so now candidates compete with each other for scholarships and admissions PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 12. Health care in China • Gov’t sponsored health care • But not enough doctors and hospitals • Most medical care is concentrated in cities and on the eastern side PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 12. Health care in China • Policy? Gov’t set up a 5 year plan (again!) to invest $2.4 billion into rebuilding rural medical services, clinics and hospitals PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • • • • • 12. Health Issues Hepatitis B outbreaks SARS – vaccine in 2004 Bird Flu HIV / AIDS on the rise PEOPLE / SOCIAL ISSUES • 12. Health Issues – But the big deal is environmental • 2002 – only 92% urban and 68% rural had access to improved water supply • Only 69% urban and 29% rural had access to improved sanitation facilities