china facts Flashcards
examples of investment
Silicon Valley + mainly pharmaceutical companies located in Shanghai = more jobs = Apple has created over 700,000 jobs in China
better infastructure
eg. PUDONG AIRPORT + METRO TUNNELS + Zhuhai-Macau 55km bridge
high-tech facts
• During 1985-2005, around 20-25% of high tech manufacturing was produced in the EU. Below 5% of high tech manufacturing was produced in China between 1985-2001. China then started to grow and 5-11% was produced during 2001-2005.
pollution
• TNC investment greatly increased AIR pollution = Beijing air caused 1.6 million deaths a year 17% of total = 83% of chines are exposed to air that American environmental protection agency would deem ‘unhealthy’ = half population experiences levels of PM2.5 above americas highest threshold = stress on health services
geography
- Shanghai - worlds busiest container port = access to imports/exports = encouraged trade = attracted FDI
- yellow + Yangtze rivers = early source of settlements to the ancient Chinese = fertile soils allowed growth of crops grain called millet= villages built around these rivers = according to WWF now over 400 million people ive in the area covered by the Yangtze’s river basin
- china shares borders with 14 contiguous countries especially towards the WEST periphery
yellow river
• yellow + Yangtze rivers = early source of settlements to the ancient Chinese = fertile soils allowed growth of crops grain called millet= villages built around these rivers = according to WWF now over 400 million people ive in the area covered by the Yangtze’s river basin = provides about half of all the fish eaten in China, and two-thirds of the rice = Industries and farming there contribute as much as 40% of China’s whole economy
inequality
gender imbalance = 170 men to 100 women in some villages
one child policy
• demographic change a result of chinas one child policy = introduced between 1978-80 = most parents aborted if child was a girl = lower young population AND heavily male population = gender imbalance = 170 men to 100 women in some villages without prospect of marriage
international organisations
China joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001 – this permits easier trade with other countries around the world.
China is a founding member of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Council), a group that promotes sharing of wealth, trade, ideas and culture between China, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
It’s part of ASEAN – China makes problems for other countries like Cambodia, if Cambodia give to much support for Vietnam or Philippines
China is a member of the UN Security Council and in 2010-2014 blocked efforts by the USA to intervene in the Syria conflict, along with Russia
relationship with USA
China wants to expand control over the South and East China Sea; the US believes everyone should have free movement through international waters
China is building a blue-water navy – e.g. aircraft carriers operate in coastal waters (1st Island Chain) and beyond (2nd), into areas that the USA has influence
China’s technology is currently obsolete – its ships are 2nd hand from nearby countries. Although it has 400 nuclear warheads and Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles that could reach 15,000 km, the USA has over 1000 warheads!
China is finding ways to stand up to the USA – and is trying to influence Vietnam and the Philippines so that these countries want China’s support not the USA.
Because the US Navy’s 7th Fleet is based at Yokosuka in Japan, China is building ports and bases in Burma, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
again regional influence
Brutal occupation by Japan makes for difficult political relationship
There are border disputes with India: China needs water from Tibet (Himalayas)
China must be able to trade through the East and South China Sea as well as the Malacca Strait
Concern that Vietnam, Singapore or Philippines could block trade routes.
China wants control over everything within the 9-Dash Line
relationship with EU
Britain needs Chinese wealth for investment expensive infrastructure – e.g. nuclear power station / High Speed 2.
But: after Tiananmen Square – the EU banned sell military equipment and military technology to China.
Chinese companies haven’t sold products very well, so they have exported large amounts of goods (e.g. dumping steel) to Europe, which reduces their price. European businesses then find it hard to make profit for their own goods (e.g. steel), so they go bankrupt to sell their own goods (steel) making companies in Europe go bankrupt.
As a result, the EU makes it harder for Chinese companies to do business in Europe – e.g. there are heavy restrictions on Chinese airlines flying into Europe.
africa
China has been building its presence in Africa since 2000; trade has grown 400%
There are many billion-pound deals
Over raw materials, and other goods
Africa is being transformed with roads, bridges, railways, shopping malls, casinos, golf courses, schools, hospitals
Knowledge, experience, wealth are being widely shared.
China is now Africa’s 3rd largest trading partner (behind USA and France)
But: China has flooded the market with cheap goods – and that destroys local industries – and China is also engaging with rogue regimes that support human rights abuses.
africa - china benefits
650 Chinese state companies are working in construction: Supreme Court in Nigeria, State Building in Uganda, Nigerian shopping centre, presidential palace in DRC, Nigeria’s first satellite.
China wants political equality and mutual trust- not just America ruling the world.
China has written off debt
600 teachers and 15,000 doctors have been sent to Africa.
China needs raw materials (high demand)
High demand: price of raw materials rise
Africa countries are bartering; Angola forces China to buy 10,000 barrels of oil / day
africa - china costs
Local private companies can’t compete - they don’t have the resources to build a road / power station.
New Chinese goods aren’t high quality
There is local protest / riots e.g. Zambia; when an anti-Chinese opposition politician ‘lost’ an election
The value of clothing / textiles have fallen – 17% - creating job losses in Kenya, South Africa, Lesotho (upto 50%)
China blocked a UN Security Council resolution to stop civil war in Darfur, Sudan.
