Category: Asia

In the Socialist People’s Republic of China, under Mao Tse-tung, chairman of the Central People’s Government, from 1949 onwards industry and trade were nationalized and agricultural production was collectivized. During the “Cultural Revolution” (1966–1969) the “Red Guard” acted ruthlessly against supposed political opponents, but the PR China gradually established itself as the “third world power”. In 1971 it was recognized by the UN, and in 1972 the US President’s visit marked the beginning of a cautious opening to the west. After Mao’s death in 1976, China followed a moderately socialist course, but the democracy movement of 1989 was crushed. Domestic politics, which are still partly undemocratic, are currently countered by the extensive opening up to the market economy.

Five autonomous regions have been established for the largest ethnic minorities in the world’s most populous country: the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang Uyghur Region in the far west, the Xizang Autonomous Region of the Tibetans, the Ningxia Autonomous Region of the Muslim Hui and in the far south the Guangxi Autonomous Region of the Zhuang. The urban agglomerations of Beijing, Tianjin and Chongqing, along with Shanghai, are among the four cities directly under the government that are directly subordinate to the central government and thus have the same status as provinces and autonomous regions. For more information about the continent of Asia, please check a2zgov.com.