Editing China (section)

==People's Republic of China==

After the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, China plunged into several decades of consecutive civil wars until a man named Mao Zedong unified China. After unifying China, Mao Zedong introduced a system that was distinct from any previous dynasties. This system, which is still in use in China today, combines elements of ancient Chinese centralized bureaucratic systems with the Leninist model of the Soviet Union.

In simple terms, the government in China is composed entirely of bureaucrats. Although there is a "figurehead parliament" known as the National People's Congress (NPC), which is theoretically the highest authority in China and has the power to elect the President (current President Xi Jinping is ostensibly elected by the NPC), the bureaucrats are the actual decision-makers and implementers of policies. They even oversee their own actions through internal mechanisms of supervision.

During Mao Zedong's reign, he and the Communist Party of China created this series of institutions for the entire country. In Mao's ideal vision, this system was supposed to operate effectively, be subject to supervision by the people, be free from corruption, and have bureaucrats who were honest and dedicated solely to the betterment of society. The Communist Party of China sought to merge with the Chinese government and even the Chinese people themselves (as of 2023, the Communist Party of China has around 10% of the total population as its members, which means approximately one out of every ten Chinese individuals is a party member). Most of the high-ranking officials in China, as well as the majority of known bureaucrats, are party members. Mao Zedong's ideology has been infused into the minds of every Chinese person.

In Mao Zedong's ideal vision, China was meant to be a country where the bureaucracy was supervised by workers and farmers. He was eager to introduce his ideals to everyone, writing books and compiling his own quotations, hoping that everyone would learn from them. However, in reality, the system had significant flaws. Workers and farmers were unable to effectively supervise the bureaucracy, and moreover, the majority of them lacked proper education. On the other hand, the bureaucrats were often highly educated intellectuals. During Mao's reign, he held the position of a philosopher king and could somewhat steer the country toward his ideals. But after his death in 1976, power struggles erupted within the centers of power in China. Mao's chosen successor, Hua Guofeng, was overthrown by Deng Xiaoping, who became the de facto leader representing the bureaucratic group. (It is worth noting that most Chinese people are unaware that Hua Guofeng was actually the second leader of China, and many mistakenly believe that Deng Xiaoping served as the second leader. In reality, Deng Xiaoping never held the position of President of China.)

Before his death, Mao Zedong expressed in his last wishes that his ashes should be scattered into the Yangtze River. However, the Communist Party of China established a special committee to discuss the handling of Mao Zedong's remains. They quickly reached a consensus to place Mao Zedong's body in a crystal coffin for exhibition, similar to Lenin in the Soviet Union. This decision continues to generate significant controversy. Some argue that it does not show proper respect for Mao Zedong himself, while others believe that Mao Zedong's contributions to China warrant such an action. Regardless, Mao Zedong's preserved body remains on display in the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall in Beijing, China. Anyone can enter and pay respects to this great leader.

After Deng Xiaoping came to power, he overturned a series of socialist-oriented policies in China, including the collective ownership of land and the 90% state-controlled economy. He initiated reforms that shifted China towards a capitalist direction, known as "reform and opening up," which China continues to follow to this day. During Deng's tenure, China experienced rapid economic growth, and the living standards of the Chinese people significantly improved. The issue of famine was also alleviated with the introduction of high-yield rice varieties developed by a brilliant agricultural scientist named Yuan Longping. However, Deng Xiaoping's era is widely recognized as the most corrupt period in China's history. As the chosen representative of the bureaucratic group, Deng Xiaoping inevitably protected the interests of the bureaucracy. Many high-ranking officials during Deng's era amassed vast fortunes through corruption and bribery. It was during this time that many revolutionary elites who fought to overthrow China's feudal aristocracy and warlord system became the new "red nobility" or "red capitalists."

During the early stages of Deng Xiaoping's era, China pursued a pro-American approach. However, in 1989, the United States launched a color revolution targeting China, which led to the infamous events on June 4th, known as the Tiananmen Square Incident. On that day, over a hundred people died, and there are still divergent accounts of what exactly happened due to a lack of reliable documentary evidence. Each faction within China's political circles has its own interpretation, much like the varying perspectives surrounding the events of January 6th, 2021, in the United States. Consequently, the relationship between the two countries deteriorated to a less favorable level. In the 1990s, the United States provoked China multiple times, particularly regarding the Taiwan issue. China even prepared for the possibility of war in response to these provocations, resulting in a frosty period in bilateral relations.

In 1992, Deng Xiaoping relinquished nearly all of his power and chose Jiang Zemin to succeed him as the leader of China. It is said that Jiang Zemin was selected because during the 1989 turmoil, he handled the Shanghai protesters in a non-violent manner. He mobilized Shanghai's workers to persuade the predominantly student-led protesters to go home. This approach garnered recognition from Deng Xiaoping.

After Jiang Zemin came to power, he gradually reformed the military, which to some extent alleviated the problem of bureaucratic corruption in China. At the same time, he consolidated China's capitalist path under the banner of "socialist market economy" and incorporated Deng Xiaoping's theory into the Party Constitution (which is equivalent to the Bible of the Communist Party of China, as the organizational structure of the party is akin to that of a church). From then on, China, which had previously pursued an idealistic path during Mao Zedong's era but achieved unsatisfactory results, underwent a complete transformation into a realist China.

Indeed, due to the prolonged internal conflicts that spanned almost half a century (from 1911 to 1949), and with the broader perspective of ongoing tensions between the Republic of China (ROC) and the People's Republic of China (PRC), China's economy remained underdeveloped. During this time, China relied on industries such as garment manufacturing and low-end product assembly to slowly accumulate primitive capital, while awaiting future breakthroughs. China was still struggling through a challenging and difficult period.

After Jiang Zemin's era, Hu Jintao came to power as the leader of China. How was Hu Jintao selected? In the 1990s, there were several incidents of unrest in Tibet, including one in the capital city of Lhasa. During this particular incident, as a government official, Hu Jintao donned a helmet and held a rifle while standing on a military vehicle to help suppress the rioters. This event earned Hu Jintao the nickname "Lhasa Tiger," and it was in part due to this display of leadership that he was chosen by Jiang Zemin.

In 2002, Hu Jintao came to power. His rule, compared to the era of Jiang Zemin and later Xi Jinping, appeared relatively calm and uneventful. Many people viewed him as continuing along the path laid out by Jiang Zemin. During this period, China's economy entered a golden age, and it became relatively easy for many Chinese people to find decent jobs. Various restrictions were relaxed, allowing for greater freedom of expression on the internet, including criticism of the government, the Communist Party, and even direct attacks on Hu Jintao himself. As a result, many people have fond memories of this era because it was a time of apparent tranquility and prosperity, even though it may seem that nothing significant happened.

Now, please rise as we introduce the esteemed leader who is revered by the people of China, the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the President of China, and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Comrade Xi Jinping!

In 2013, President Xi Jinping assumed power and has been leading China ever since, without stepping down.

Politically, President Xi Jinping has consolidated his position by vigorously combating corruption and purging his political opponents. His unprecedented crackdown on corruption has solidified his power. Furthermore, his efforts to combat corruption have instilled hope among the Chinese people, who have witnessed decades of corruption since the era of Deng Xiaoping. As a result, President Xi has garnered significant support from the people. It can be said that he is the most influential leader in China since Deng Xiaoping, and perhaps even since Mao Zedong.

Economically, when President Xi Jinping took office, China was at the end of the "Golden Decade," and its economic development had entered a phase of deceleration. The double-digit GDP growth rates experienced during the "Golden Decade" had slowed down to single-digit growth. However, President Xi has made significant efforts to promote technological development and encourage the growth of advanced industries such as semiconductor chips, civil aviation, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. Overall, China's economy can still be considered relatively strong.

In the realm of the internet, President Xi Jinping has strengthened internet regulation. While it is still possible to express anti-government and anti-Communist Party sentiments on the Chinese internet, compared to the Hu Jintao era when internet regulation was relatively lax, there are now stricter controls in place. Moreover, criticizing President Xi Jinping himself has become an absolute taboo. President Xi promotes the concept of internet sovereignty, which asserts that each country should have control over its own internet space. As a result, many people believe that the quality of internet information in China is gradually declining.

In terms of culture, President Xi Jinping promotes reverence for the revolutionary heroes of China's past, particularly those from the revolutionary war era of the last century. He also advocates the spirit of striving, emphasizing that every individual should work diligently in their respective positions to achieve a better life. Additionally, he requires all Communist Party members to use a mobile app called "Study Xi, Strong Country（学习强国）" to learn about the Party's new ideologies, and all Party branches are expected to regularly study the directives of the top leadership. However, despite these efforts, a culture of decadence has still prevailed since 2019.

In society, Xi Jinping has strengthened the presence of the Communist Party of China (CPC) across various social spheres, emphasizing that the Party should not solely consist of government bureaucrats. People from every industry have been encouraged to join the CPC, expanding its membership to an astonishing number, surpassing the population of possibly 80% of the countries on Earth.At the same time, he promotes China's outstanding traditional culture and integrates the predominantly Confucian thought into the mainstream ideology of modern China.

In terms of military affairs, Xi Jinping downsized the PLA from 2.3 million to 2 million troops in order to allocate higher per capita military expenditure and implemented various reforms within the armed forces. He emphasizes the absolute leadership of the Chinese Communist Party over the military (although this is a consistent stance on his part). During his tenure until 2023, China has constructed two aircraft carriers and has at least three more aircraft carriers under construction in shipyards.

===Political Affiliation===
The internal power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are not made public, and many people have their own interpretations of these internal dynamics. Therefore, we will only discuss the factions within the general public.
There are many political factions within China, among which the main ones are the loyalist faction and the opposition faction.

* '''Loyalist faction'''
:The loyalist faction refers to all those who are loyal to the government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Regardless of their reasons, they acknowledge and support the rule of the government and the Chinese Communist Party, and they have no intention to overthrow their rule (at least not currently). The reasons for their loyalty may vary, such as their admiration for the Chinese system, the benefits they have gained from it, or simply their dislike for other countries.

* '''Opposition faction'''
:The opposition faction, in contrast to the loyalist faction, seeks to overthrow the government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, or at least one of them. Similarly, there can be various reasons behind their opposition, such as their dislike for the Chinese system, not benefiting from it, general discontent with the country, or even allegations of receiving money from organizations like the CIA or individuals associated with Taiwan.

Apart from the two factions mentioned above, there are indeed other factions within the general public.

* '''Han Nationalists（皇汉）'''
:Han Nationalists often emphasize the dominant status of the Han ethnic group in China. They typically call for the abolition of preferential policies for ethnic minorities (in China, ethnic minorities receive certain benefits, such as additional points added to their total scores in the national college entrance examination, known as the "gaokao"). Some may also demand the elimination of ethnic autonomous region policies. However, it's important to note that the most extreme and radical individuals among them advocating ethnic cleansing and promoting extreme racial ideologies represent a small faction.

* '''Maoist（毛左）'''
:"Maoist" refers to those who support Chairman Mao Zedong and have nostalgia for the era of his rule. They have varying degrees of support for the government, hoping for reforms that align more closely with the Maoist era. Some believe that China deviated from the path laid by Chairman Mao after his death and advocate for the overthrow of the Chinese government to establish a new People's Republic of China. It is worth noting that as China's economy has worsened, this viewpoint has gained increasing recognition among a growing number of people.

* '''Openist'''
:"Openist." It refers to a faction that advocates for relaxed control measures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, opposing strict quarantine policies. Some individuals within this faction may believe that COVID-19 is just a minor cold and does not require strict control measures.

* '''Isolationist'''
:"Isolationist." It refers to a faction or group of people who advocate for strict containment measures in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. They support policies that involve rigorous isolation, quarantine, and other measures aimed at controlling and eventually eliminating the spread of COVID-19.