Outline of China

The flag of the People's Republic of China
The National Emblem of the People's Republic of China
An enlargeable map of the People's Republic of China

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to China:

The People's Republic of China is the most extensive country in East Asia and the third most extensive country in the world.[1][note 1] With a population of over 1,400,000,000, it is the second most populous country in the world.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has led the PRC under a one-party system since the state's establishment in 1949. The PRC is involved in a dispute over the political status of Taiwan. The CCP's rival during the Chinese Civil War, the Kuomintang (KMT), fled to Taiwan and surrounding islands after its defeat in 1949, claiming legitimacy over China, Mongolia, and Tuva while it was the ruling power of the Republic of China (ROC). The term "mainland China" is often used to denote the areas under PRC rule, but sometimes excludes its two special administrative regions: Hong Kong and Macau.

Because of its vast population, rapidly growing economy, and large research and development investments, China is considered an "emerging superpower".[2][3] It has the world's second largest economy (largest in terms of purchasing power parity.) China is also a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.[4][5][6][7] Since 1978, China's market-based economic reforms have brought the poverty rate down from 53% in 1981 to 8% by 2001.[8] However, China is now faced with a number of other socioeconomic problems, including an aging population, an increasing rural-urban income gap, and rapid environmental degradation.[9][10]

China plays a major role in international trade. The country is the world's largest consumer of steel and concrete, using, respectively, a third and over a half of the world's supply of each.[11] Counting all products, China is the largest exporter and the second largest importer in the world.[12][13]

  1. ^ "China". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 8, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  2. ^ Gordon, Peter. "Review of "China: The Balance Sheet -- What the World Needs to Know Now About the Emerging Superpower"". The Asia Review of Books. Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  3. ^ Miller, Lyman. "China an Emerging Superpower?". Stanford Journal of International Relations. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  4. ^ China Passes U.S. In Trade With Japan
  5. ^ Trade Policy Outlook for Second-term Bush Administration
  6. ^ "China - Taiwan Economic Ties". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  7. ^ "Beijing's Growing Politico-Economic Leverage Over Ulaanbaatar". Archived from the original on 2008-10-19. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  8. ^ Fighting Poverty: Findings and Lessons from China's Success Archived 2013-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (World Bank). Retrieved August 10, 2006.
  9. ^ Yardley, Jim (December 29, 2007). "Beijing's Olympic Quest: Turn Smoggy Sky Blue". The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  10. ^ "China fails environment targets". BBC News. January 10, 2007. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  11. ^ Center for International Trade in Forest Products Archived 2008-06-24 at the Wayback Machine China's Building Boom. Retrieved December 2, 2006,
  12. ^ The World Factbook, Rank Order - Imports.
  13. ^ "WTO: China overtakes US as second biggest exporter". Geneva: China Daily. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2016-09-16.


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