September 2004 3
MBA Education & Careers
China and Taiwan/Tibet/Hong Kong
C hina is the world’s
biggest country by
population and the
fourth largest by area. Today,
China has emerged as the
fastest growing economy in the
world. It grew at a scorching
9.8 % in 2003. China
received the highest
FDI in 2003. China
has very rich resources
of minerals like coal,
iron ore, uranium,
etc. It also has the
world’s
largest
hydropower potential.
China is divided into
23 provinces, 5
autonomous regions
and 4 municipalities.
China boasts of a very
ancient civilisation
dating back to pre-historic
times. China’s contribution to
the development of culture and
philosophy is exemplary. For
centuries, China stood as a
leading civilisation, outpacing
the rest of the world in the arts
and sciences. But in the 19th
and early 20th centuries, China
was beset by civil unrest, major
famines, military defeats, and
foreign occupation.
History
Western imperialism in China in
the19th Century paved the way
for the rise of Chinese
nationalism. Around the turn of
the 19th Century, China was
ruled by the Manchu dynasty.
The Manchu government was
weakened by the erosion of its
authority in large parts of
China. The Western powers
usurped this authority and
carved out their own “spheres
of influence”. In 1911, a much
weakened Manchu government
was overthrown in an uprising
led by a band of committed
nationalists. Dr. Sun Yat-sen,
one of the leaders in the
uprising, was chosen as the
provisional President. His
appoinment led to much
heartburn among other
presidential aspirants especially
among the powerful warlords.
He resigned to secure political
unity and promote national
interest. Yuan Shi Kai, a
powerful warlord
became the President.
In 1912, Dr. Sun
founded
the
Koumintang (KMT)
which worked against
the repressive policies
of Yuan Shi Kai. The
KMT was banned and
Dr. Sun fled to
Formosa (now called
Taiwan). He returned
after the First World
War and worked
against the imperial powers
who still were not willing to give
up their privileges in