A discussion of China’s present day situation cannot be complete without mention of the industrial powerhouse that the country has become in the very recent history. Our focus this week was the extraordinary surge of economic growth that has carried the country that contains nearly a fifth of the world’s population into the 21st century. The repetition of a few key, astounding numbers (1978 reform leading to an annual rise of nearly 10% GDP for the next 30 years), may be in part due to sheer amazement that can only be mollified by repetition until desensitization. During our discussions this week, the recurring theme of Western and foreign impressions of the Chinese and China surfaced once more. In general, we feel as though that among these sentiments exists a lot of mistrust, judgment and the impression that the Chinese thrust aside their morals in order to meet their rigorous deadlines and goals for development. At first, many foreigners doubted the validity of China’s “economic miracle”: they believed, and to varying extents still believe, that the data coming from China is highly inflated to make the progress of China’s economy.
However, despite the very real possibility that China manipulates data that it publishes to the public and international forums, it is undeniable that the country has experienced incredible change in its economic sector in a historically short period of time. What remain open to question are the impacts of this growth and the implications for its future: restructuring of the economic system, cultural tensions of modernization and import of western culture have changed the day-to-day lives of billions of Chinese people. Larger issues that beg attention from the government and citizens alike are also emerging; among them is the environment. Interestingly enough, in a published report published by the Chinese government in 2010, “七个怎么看” or “How to See the Seven Issues”, environmental degradation was not among seven explicitly stated areas of current concern. Especially at the level of central government, we’ve seen many actions and indications that preservation of the environment is acknowledged as an important consideration.
For example, the latest five year plan, covering 2005-2010 had stated the importance of creating ways to mitigate environmental impacts within China. In particular, the realm of fossil fuel emissions and energy efficiency are an area of new actions. With the recent news of China as the world’s greatest producer of solar panels and their ambitious goals to reduce CO2 emissions by 20%, it is clear to see that they are responding to at least this aspect of environmental degradation. Perhaps in part motivated by international pressure as much as self-preservation, China has, at least in print, aims to alter their energy mix away from the extremely inefficient (in terms of energy/emissions) coal. Considering its abundance and availability, however, the economic motives for transitioning away from coal as an energy source still seem hazy. While China actually follow through?
Sustainability in China’s development is also a key buzzword: will this growth and success last? Potential weaknesses still exist in the中国特色的社会主义, or the hybrid of free market that has grown out of the socialist ashes of Maoist China. Analysts point to the fragilities, such as the financial sector, housing market, misplaced incentives and subsidies; and warn of their potential to deflate the balloon of China’s awesome increase in GDP. But will the Achilles’ heel actually be environmental degradation?
However, an excellent question raised by Wumeng will continue to hang in my mind while I consider the consequences and future of this economic change in China: has China been developing or simply growing? How are they different? How can we consider the increase in the rural urban disparity while also acknowledging the increased standard of living of the country as a whole? The cost of industry in terms of the environment and the subsequent health of billions?
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