Terms for Page 4 (Chinese Political History) Flashcards
What was the Boxer Rebellion, when was it, and what caused it? Who were the Boxers? Who ended the revolution? Why was it significant?
The Boxer Rebellion was around 1899 and was a reaction to spheres of foreign influence around China, as well as the spread of Christianity. Boxers, a militia group who were self-perceived to be invulnerable to foreign attacks, exerted force over Christians and foreigners. The revolution was quelled by the eight-nation alliance that executed the Boxers. The Qing dynasty was weakened by the revolts and were subject to this first display of Chinese nationalism - a precursor for the Republican Revolution.
What was the Republican/ Xinhai Revolution? When was it? Who was elected president?
The nationalistic revolution that ended the Qing dynasty formally in 1912, when Emperor Pu Yi abdicated as emperor. Sun-Yat Sen was elected as first president of the Republic of China (ROC).
What was the Cultural Revolution? Who executed it and why was it carried out?
Mao Zedong, fearing that Communism was getting watered down, encouraged the youth to adopt a nationalistic and revolutionary behavior and purge the impure aspects of Chinese society, that is, those who did not share the revolutionary behavior/mindset. Military factions of youth called the Red Guard emerged, and children began reporting their parents to the Guard. 400,000 people were reportedly killed. Dang Xiaoping was purged twice during the revolution, which ended with Mao’s death.
Who was Mao Zedong?
A revolutionary librarian who led the Chinese civil war of Communism, overthrowing the ROC. He is the father of Chinese communism and the first People’s Republic of China president. He ran an authoritarian regime that expelled the Japanese from China.
Who was Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin is famous for facilitating the return of Hong Kong to China from Britain, and the return of Macau from Portugal.
Who was Hu Jintao?
Pursued international soft power and economic prowess, although being relatively more authoritarian than predecessors like Jiang Zemin.
Who was Xi Jinping?
The current president of the PRC as of 2015 who has healthy ties to Taiwan.
Who is Li Keqiang?
The current premier of China as of 2015.
What is the State Council?
A council that includes the premier and the heads of each government department. It meets every 6 months to oversee the various provincial peoples republics.
What is the National Peoples Congress (NPC)? How many people are in it?
A legislation of 2,987 representatives. The NPC elects the Chinese president, who in turn elects the premier. All members are from the United Front or Chinese Communist parties.
What is the Baum scenario?
The idea that China’s future rests in a continuation along the path of liberalization because of economic pursuits and trade revenues that slowly make China more capitalist. It will become more like Taiwan that it will join back with the island peacefully.
What is the Mearshimer scenario?
The Mearshimer scenario predicts that China’s economic prowess will threaten US security, straining relations. China will force the US out of Asia in a Cold-War style fashion, and Taiwan will be taken, by force, by the PRC.
How many monitors of internet censorship exist in Chinese universities?
500.
How many people does China employ to censor and constantly comb the internet?
50,000.
Who was Jerry Yang, and what was the controversy surrounding him?
The CEO of Yahoo who brought the service to China. A Chinese dissident blasted the regime through his Yahoo email, and when China requested his info from Yahoo, it gave it over. The dissident was punished and Yahoo was internationally criticized and Jerry Yang eventually stepped down.
