Recent events show that China is clearly on an inevitable rise. In early August, China surpassed Japan as the world's second largest economy. In addition, according to projections by the World Bank and Goldman Sachs, China is on track to overtake the U.S. sometime around 2025. Other factors illustrating the country's ascent are the growth of its GDP at 9%, 50 million people per year joining its middle class, its recent overtaking of the number one spot in energy consumption, and the country's minimal credit risk. The one large caveat, however, is China's $3,800 per capita income that is largely dwarfed by those of Japan and America.
However, in a drastic parallel to China's growth, environmental tragedies and accidents continue to mar its image. 702 people have been killed by rain-triggered mudslides in Zhouqu County, adding to China's rising casualty total over the past two months due to natural disasters. A bridge collapse in Henan Province killed 37 people in late July, and a coal mining accident that occurred the same day of the announcement that China`s economy overtook Japan killed 17 people and trapped two dozen workers in northeast China.
While these incidents were due to natural or accidental causes, intentional acts of social violence have disturbingly occurred as well. A tractor rampage in Hebei province resulted in 11 deaths and numerous others wounded, and in the latest occurrence of a string of violent attacks against schoolchildren in China, a man wielding a knife killed three kindergarten children in Zibo, a manufacturing city in eastern China’s Shandong province. These tragedies have pushed government leaders to explore the underlying causes of the violence, which many have cited as rising social and income inequality, political corruption, and inadequate mental treatment in rural areas.
In regards to issues of military and security, Major General Luo Yuan of the People's Liberation Army has voiced opposition to naval exercises between South Korea and the U.S. in the Yellow Sea. The Liberation Army Daily reported that he views the activity of American warships as a sign of invasion and a threat to the PLA's prestige. At the moment, Beijing has not responded to Luo Yuan's request and joint naval exercises continue to occur. Read more about China’s economy, politics and other current events in the Daily Updates section of our website.
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