← "China's AIDS population" | Return to Main Page | "Linklets 27th January" → | TrackBack (0)

January 26, 2006

You are on the invidual archive page of Great Leap Forward in China's economy. Click Simon World weblog for the main page.
Great Leap Forward in China's economy

China yesterday announced a record 9.9% rise in newspaper cliches to describe its economic growth, including "growth spurt", "gallops", "soaring" and my attempt. Confusion abounds as no-one seems sure if China is now the fourth and fifth biggest economy in the world (it seems journalists have trouble comparing numbers). Even the mighty New York Times can't make up its mind (below the jump).

A mighty achievement, as China reclaims its status as an important part of the world. A time for swelling national pride as the Middle Kingdom assumes its rightful mantle. But one thought: it took the complete dismantling of Mao's Great Leap Forward and other economic disasters for this to happen. Basically this moment has been delayed by more than 50 years thanks to the Chairman. On top of the 70 million people he killed, he managed to retard China's growth and kept the nation impoverished. Here's hoping he's spinning in his mausoleum.

NYTChinaeconomy.gif

 posted by Simon on 01.26.06 at 03:22 PM in the China economy category.




Trackbacks:

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blog.mu.nu/cgi/trackback.cgi/147638

Send a manual trackback ping to this post.


Comments:

I do not believe "delayed by 50 years" or "after 70 million people killed" is the correct way to look at the history. Not to defend Mao and his policy but it is no doubt that the catastrophe ensued had a dramatic effect on the Chinese people. China is what it is today can not be divorced from its history, wether be in Mao, Communism, Japanese invasion or Western Imperialism. Deng pursued the policy he did and was able to build consensus around it because of the tremendous suffering during the Cultural Revolution. If Holocaust did not happen would the state of Israel be created still? What is to say that China would not be eternally stagnat like other communist country like Cuba or even worse North Korea?

I don't think this is about right or wrong but Chinese are so singularly determined to pursue one policy or another, is no doubt a result of history. Remember 150 years ago in this largely secular country, there was a Christian Fundamentalist uprising poised to take power and almost succeeded.

 posted by: Falen on 01.27.06 at 12:20 AM [permalink]




Post a Comment:

Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember your info?







Disclaimer
All content, including comments, on this site operates under a Creative Commons Licence. The content except for quotes reflect my personal opinions and not those of my employer, family, co-workers, fellow Sydney Swans supporters or anyone else. The comments section is open but if you write it, you stand by it. I take no responsibility for comments. I may, at my sole discretion, moderate, alter or remove comments. I reserve the right to unashamedly change the rules as I go along. All emails are publishable unless otherwise marked. If you don't like it, use the little x in the top right of your browser.