Book Report #34 – The fall and Rise of China.
Begin: 6/26/2024
Finish: 7/1/2024
Title: The Fall and Rise of China
Author: Professor Richard Baum
University of California, Los Angeles.
Why I choose to read this book:
Chinese history has always fascinated me. It is good to learn how China struggle from being an advanced society and fallen down and dominated by foreign powers and eventually rise from the ashes like a phoenix to be a super power in the global politics.
What I learned from this book:
This book covers China’s tumultuous 200 year journey from collapsing 19th Century empire to an aspiring 21st Century superpower. The journey begins with the decline and fall of the Manchu Dynasty under the Dual stress of foreign penetration and rising domestic disorder and culminates in China’s rise, phoenix-like from the ashes of radical, revolutionary Maoism to become a globalized, marketized economic and potential military – superpower.
The Demise of the ancient regime and the struggle for revolutionary renewal (1793 – 1945):
The rising military and mercantile power of an awakening Europe. Th ewe opium wars crippled the Manchu Dynasty, rendering it an easy mark for Western penetration and predation. By the end of the 19th Century with a series of “unequal Treaties” has reduced China to a hollow shell of its former splendor. China is now bankrupt and adrift as the mercy of foreign interests. Self strengthening movements launched in 1860’s aims at studying and emulating the secrets of Western Technological and military prowess but Manchu Oligarch, fearful of losing their traditional status, succeed in blocking progressive reform of China’s Confucian-dominated education, cultural, economic, and political institutions. By the end of the Century, frustrated reformers begin turning to revolutionary means to effect necessary societal changes.
The Manchu Dynasty crumbles in 1912 and for the next 37 years, China is wracked by revolution, foreign invasion and civil war. Externally, Japan was exerting military pressure on China, while internally two revolutionary movements fight for political dominance: The Kuomintang (GMD Aka Nationalist Party) under Sun Yet-Sen and his successor, Chiang Kai Shek: and the communist, under Mao Zedong. Japan attack China in 1937, Chiang retreated to Chongqing while the communist retreated to North China’s countryside. In august 1945, The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brings the war to an end. Mao and Chiang prepared for a final showdown.
The Age of Mao Zedong (1945 -1968):
At the end of World War II, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) fought a civil war against Kuomintang (GMD). The tide of battle turns decisively for Mao’s favor. Beijing falls on January 1, 1949 and Mao declares the birth of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The early years of the regime are devoted to political consolidation and economic recovery. A national land reform is introduced in 1950, marked by massive land confiscation. CCP launch a program of agriculture collectivization designed to eliminate private ownership of land. By 1956 the Socialist transformation of the Chinese Economy is complete. All rural villages have been collectivized, and all urban industrial and commercial firm converted to state ownership. In 1958 Mao launched a social engineering program known the Great Leap Forward. Hastily designed and poorly planned. Between 1959 – 1961 30 million people died of malnutrition. Seeking to limit damage, two of Mao’s lieutenants, Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping began dismantling the Great Leap and ran afoul of Mao. Mao launches the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Mao unleashes the Red Guard in fall of 1966. Schools are dismissed and young people are urged tp ‘Make Revolution’ against Chairman Mao enemies. By 1967 it has spread to CCP officials of all levels – including Liu Shaogi and Deng Xiaoping – being purged. China is in disarray, poised on the brink of anarchy.
Burying Mao (1968 – 1982):
Mao at 80, ever unpredictable decides to rehabilitate the disgraced Deng Xiaoping to revive China’s paralyzed political institution. Sino Soviet tension in March 1969, Soviets were hinting of possible airstrike of China’s Nuclear Facilities. Seeking to enlist American help in containing Soviet expansion. Invitation of the US Ping Pong and president Nixon to visit China. It was strongly opposed by Jiang Qing (Mao’s Wife) and her associates (The Gang of four), Mao prevails and the Shanghai Communique is signed in February 1972. With Mao death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping attempts a second comeback. By 1978 his ascendency was confirmed by the CCP, a number of sweeping policy and initiatives are introduced to revive the stagnant economy, restore legal institution and open China to the outside world. Deng sets about reversing Mao’s Legacy of the Cultural Revolution. He rehabilitates large number of overthrown cadres, introduce market competition and profit making, dismantle collective farms and encourage peasants to farm their own family plots: four special economic zones are opened along China’s Eastern Seaboard, designed to stimulate foreign investment and technology transfer.
China Rises From The Ashes (1982 -2010):
In the early 1980’s, senior CCP conservative criticize Deng reforms as ‘Capitalist’. In 1987 removal of Deng’s liberal-minded protege Hu Yaobang, and accused him of ‘Bourgeois Liberalization’. In 1989 Hu Yaobang died suddenly causes thousands of college students to take to the streets in Beijing, demanding Hu’s good name be restored, the crowd grew and the students started a hunger strike. Premier Li Peng declares Martial law. The students triumph is short lived on June 3, massive waves of government troops, converged on Tiananmen Square and open fire on civilian crowd. On June 4, the army secured Tiananmen Square. The shocking collapse of the Soviet Union embolden the CCP to demand a complete reversal of China’s ‘Capitalists’ Reforms”. Though ailing and infirm, the 86 year old Deng fight back and in January 1992 embark on a 5 weeks Southern Tour of China’s dynamic Coastal cities and Special Economic Zones. Mobilizing support for his reforms. Deng’s chosen successor, Jiang Zemin and Zhu Rongji successful resolve a series of growing economic problems, taming inflation, marketing state-owned enterprises and reforming banking and tax systems. By the time Deng dies in 1997, the economy was averaging 10 percent annual growth. Jiang encourage recruitment of China ‘New Class’ of capitalist entrepreneur into the CCP. In 1002 Hu Jintao under the slogan ‘Building A Harmonious Society”, restored welfare benefits eliminated in 1990’s. He restored tuition -free public education, subsidized health care, unemployment benefits, and retirement pensions for worker, peasants and migrant laborers. The CCP maintains political powers and no dissent is tolerated. Such repression were seen in the Beijing Olympics of 2008 as dissident journalist, political activists, and social critics were harasser and intimidated. The PRC dramatic rise has generated widespread fear of lost or outsourced jobs and has heightened global competition for energy resources, mineral and raw material. China is viewed by many as a peer competitor and potential adversary. Recent Chinese behavior provides optimism. Since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, China has confirmed with prevailing international norms, and standards in its legal, commercial and financial dealings. China’s relations with Taiwan have calmed down since 2005. And China has supported initiatives against Nuclear weapons in Iraq, Iran and North Korea. China is seen as behaving as a responsible stakeholder.
How will this book contribute to my success upon release:
History lessons improves my analytical and critical thinking skills. I have learned from this book about the struggles, resilience, mistakes and success of China. There are lots to learn form and to avoid future mistakes. This information will be shared with my family, friends and communities which I plan to volunteer my teaching, tutoring or mentoring services.
