Important Issue in China and the World in the 20th century until the present time

Over a hundred years, most European, American and Asian countries, have advanced and became powerful nations in agriculture, telecommunication, manufacturing and also in warfare. In each historical period, numerous significant events have been highlighted and shaped by the changing relations of the world’s great power. The activities include world wars, revolutions, change of foreign policies, military strategies and diplomacies, industry, trade, and technology. China has received the world’s attention since the reign of Qing dynasty, due to its robust economy, and also after becoming the world’s second economic leader. However, China has also faced numerous challenges such as increased population, rebellions and military conflicts which derailed the state’s growth. Therefore, this article seeks to examine the critical issues affecting China and the world during the 20th century to the present time.

In China, colonialism is one of the issues which achieved attention during the 20th century. The diversity of colonial arrangement in China’s landscape defies a systematic characterization linked to imperialism where areas like Shanghai and Hong served as icons of colonialism due to its occupation by the British, who have engendered China’s historical narratives. The colonization of the two Chinese territories was ushered by the success of the British conquest in the year 1842, during the Opium war, and the signing of the Nanjing treaty. The treaty agreement between the British and the Chinese initiated new colonial formations in China, which led to the cessation of Hong Kong territory from the Chinese colony. The cessation led to the establishment of several ports such as Ningbo, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Fuzhou, and Xiamen, which helped to boost foreign trade among the British[1].

The geography of imperialism in China encompasses the British, Germans, French and the Portuguese. Portugal, made a significant contribution to China’s colonial landscape, by maintaining leasehold agreements in Macau, and Taiwan, and leased some of China’s territory like Russian Port Arthur, Weihai, and Jiazhou. The leased areas were suspended from its recognition as China’s territory for a finite period and were governed by a single colonial power. However, most colonial landscapes and structures were terminated haphazardly by global politics and China’s entrance into the First World War[2].

China’s 1911 revolution is also a significant event featured in the 20th century. The revolution ushered in Mao,s dynasty, which replaced Qing. The revolution led to the introduction of socialism, and education and training institutions. Moreover, Mao’s regime introduced intellectual and political formation, leading to the creation of the Chinese Communist party which was of crucial personal and political significance to the country’s stability. Mao believed that China’s problem could be solved through an individual’s transformation, rather than socio-cultural change; therefore he became an idealist liberal and supported physical education, thus strengthening and encouraging the military spirit of the country[3].

The issue of Global warming is one of the most crucial environmental problems which has affected most states in the world. Countries like China, India, Russia, and the United States, have encountered global warming since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 1920s. Global warming has led to an increase in surface temperature, and the rising levels of the ocean. Since 1920, climate warming in China has changed, in its southern and Northern parts. The winter seasons experienced in China, became relatively cold, compared to previous seasons, a factor attributed to global warming which is blamed on urbanization, emission of carbon materials, deforestation and human heating. Currently, the problem of global warming continues to affect most countries even those in Africa, which are not well developed. Moreover, the 1920’s industrial revolution led to the development of heavy chemical industries such as electrical machinery, steel, and artificial silk. Countries such as Japan and Germany, embarked on the production of machines, ignited by the need of artificial protection after the First World War, foreign technology and industrial linkage like shipbuilding[4].

In 1930-1960, the world was marked by great depression, which had a significant impact on major world economic powers like China, Russia, and the United States. In China, the great depression affected China’s international monetary system, which led to the fluctuations in the country’s prices of silver internationally. The great depression also destabilized China’s market economy, which led to the establishment of a new monetary system, and foreign exchange standards, to stabilize the country’s economy[5]

During the 1970’s China ushered in leadership under Deng Xiaoping, after the death of Mao. China embarked on tourism and opened its doors so that its economy could be brought into the global market. International tourism also became an essential part of China’s economic and social transformational strategy, thus boosting the livelihood and the economic conditions of the Chinese citizens. During the 1980s China began venturing on tourism. However, development towards tourism was approached cautiously, since it was considered as a source of corrupting foreign value; therefore numerous campaigns aimed at minimizing contacts of the Chinese citizens, with foreign tourists and tourism facilities were initiated to limit the country’s influence.  However, in 1990, China began lifting sanctions on tourism after numerous diplomatic talks. The talks led to the opening of land borders, with a large number of visitors flocking into the country, and making the country the second largest destination of tourist. During Asia’s 1997 and the 1998 economic crisis, China became one of the world’s dominant force which attempted to bring financial stability in Asia. China’s government planners embarked on economic reforms on the country’s development[6]

In the 21st century, the issue of increased population has increased global concern due to the limited resources which may not be enough to cater to the rising population. Moreover, there is a rise in the aging population, which poses a heavy burden on the working population. Nonetheless, China and Korea have embarked on a comprehensive family planning policy to minimize birthrate as a measure to control the increased population. However, it cannot be ignored that the family planning policy does not offer a solution to the aging population, but only reduces the quantity and proportion of child population[7]

Currently, China is the world’s second-largest economy, which has contributed positively to the world’s economic growth. The country has a strong financials growth which has played a crucial role in ensuring that the world’s economic growth stays in positive territory. China’s incorporation into the world’s economy has carried a section of the world’s populace, into the trade, and amplifies the potential of the world’s market to exceptional levels. A developed world market has propelled the depth of global specialization, thus offering new opportunities to boost the country’s trade[8]

Despite the social political and economic challenges, affecting China and numerous countries in the world, the world must focus on industrial development to achieve export competitiveness which will have an impact on strengthening economies, and also increasing economic resource to support the world’s increased population.

Bibliography

Akita, Shigeru, and Nicholas J. White, eds. The International Order of Asia in the 1930s and 1950s. Gower Publishing, Ltd., 2010.

Beeson, Mark. 2013. Issues in 21st Century World Politics. Palgrave Macmillan.

Ding, Lu, and Wong John, eds. China’s economy into the new century: Structural issues and problems. World Scientific, 2002.

Golley, Jane, and Ligang Song. 2011. Rising China: Global Challenges (China Update). [Erscheinungsort nicht ermittelbar]: ANU Press.

Goodman, Bryna, and David Goodman, eds. Twentieth Century Colonialism and China: Localities, every day, and the world. Routledge, 2012.

Harrison, David. 2001. Tourism and the less developed world: issues and case studies. Wallingford, Oxon: CABI Pub. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9780851994338.0000.

Hu, Angang, and Guangyu Hu. 2007. Achievement evaluation of IFI assistance loans to China (1981-2002). Beijing: Tsinghua University. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=364192.

Karl, Rebecca E. 2010. Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: a concise history. Durham [NC]: Duke University Press.

Zhou, Jiarong. 2001. Constructing nationhood in modern East Asia. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan Press.

[1]Goodman, Bryna, and David Goodman, eds. Twentieth Century Colonialism and China: Localities, every day, and the world. Rutledge, 2012.

[2]Karl, Rebecca E. 2010. Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: a concise history. Durham [NC]: Duke University Press.

[3]Ding, Lu, and Wong John, eds. China’s economy into the new century: Structural issues and problems. World Scientific, 2002.

[4]Zhou, Jiarong. 2001. Constructing nationhood in modern East Asia. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan Press.

[5]Hu, Angang, and Guangyu Hu. 2007. Achievement evaluation of IFI assistance loans to China (1981-2002). Beijing: Tsinghua University. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=364192.

[6]. Harrison, David. 2001. Tourism and the less developed world: issues and case studies. Wallingford, Oxon: CABI Pub. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9780851994338.0000.

[7]Beeson, Mark. 2013. Issues in 21st Century World Politics. Palgrave Macmillan.

[8]Golley, Jane, and Ligang Song. 2011. Rising China: Global Challenges (China Update) [Erscheinungsort nicht ermittelbar]: ANU Press.