Latest China News
Known as the People's Republic of China under Communist rule for more than six decades, the Asian nation can be traced as far back as 221 B.C. In modern times, the world's most populous country represents a significant portion of the global economy and not always in a positive light. Exports from defective, rotting drywall to toxic toothpaste sparked outrage recently in the United States, whose debt is a major asset for the Chinese government. The country isn't just criticized for its labor practices; the government is often accused of violating human rights.
During the 2010 summer, China replaced Japan as the world's No. 2 economy as receding global growth sapped momentum and stunted a shaky recovery. China has emerged as an economic power that is changing everything from the global balance of military and financial power to how cars are designed. It is already the biggest exporter, auto buyer and steel producer, and its global influence is expanding.
China has been a major force behind the world's emergence from deep recession, delivering much-needed juice to the U.S., Japan and Europe. The country's growth has been spectacular, its voracious appetite fueling demand for resources, machinery and products from the developing world as well as rich economies like Japan and Australia.
But China's rise has produced glaring contradictions. The wealth gap between an elite who profited most from three decades of reform and its poor majority is so extreme that China has dozens of billionaires while average income for the rest of its 1.3 billion people is among the world's lowest with a per capita income of $3,600.
The world's largest carbon polluter, China pledged it would cut its carbon intensity -- emissions per unit of GDP -- by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 from the 2005 level. Nationwide efforts have also been made to reach the goal of improving energy efficiency by 20 percent from 2005 to 2010.
China's roadways are increasingly overburdened as the number of private vehicles booms along with commercial truck traffic hauling materials like coal and food to cities. Traffic slowdowns because of construction and accidents are common. In 2010, one traffic jam lasted for more than 10 days, an unusual length of time even for China.
Despite being North Korea's main ally and benefactor, China has backed U.N. resolutions punishing the isolated country for nuclear tests but issued only a muted response to the March 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship that an international investigation blamed on the North, which has denied the allegation.
On the Internet, Beijing encourages its use for education and business but tries to block access to material deemed subversive or pornographic, including websites abroad run by human rights and pro-democracy activists. The actions to keep China's citizens from finding politically sensitive information and images online have been dubbed the "Great Firewall."
With the world's biggest population of Web users at more than 384 million, China has a history of hacking. In 1999, Web surfers defaced U.S. government sites after the mistaken American bombing of Beijing's Belgrade embassy killed three Chinese. Nationalists have attacked Web sites in Japan and Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing as its own territory.
Intelligence experts say that since the 1970s, Beijing has carried on a quiet campaign to acquire foreign technology and other secrets by using Chinese businesspeople, students and scientists who travel abroad as part-time spies.
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- Bringing back jobs to the U.S. via the robot
One Pennsylvania company is using technology and people that could mark the return of manufacturing jobs to the U.S. from China
- China "one-child" policy leaves couple distraught after alleged forced abortion
Liu Xinwen says she was dragged out of bed at 4 a.m. by gov't officials and injected with drugs that killed her unborn baby
- "The Voice of China," other popular singing shows attract Chinese government's scrutiny
New regulations prompt cancellations, suspensions of singing competition shows in China, decrees against "dazzling packaging"
- Justin Bieber gets carried up the Great Wall of China
The 19-year-old pop star was photographed being carried up the famous landmark Monday on the shoulders of two bodyguards
- Wellesley College partnership with China university tested by threats to outspoken professor Xia Yeliang
Wellesley College faculty urge administration to reconsider partnership with Peking University if it sacks outspoken pro-reform professor
- China manufacturing growth slower than expected
Country's leaders are trying to reverse a slowdown that dragged down growth to a two-decade low of 7.5 percent in the latest quarter
- Sandra Bullock enshrined in Hollywood history
The "Gravity" star brought her son, Louis, to watch as she placed her hands and feet in cement in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre
- Man's nose grown on forehead ahead of transplant
Doctors took cartilage from man's rib to construct nose, which then grew under his skin for nine months before transplant
- China executes street vendor Xia Junfeng for murder, sparking cries of double-standards in justice
Xia Junfeng put to death for killing officials, but wife said it was self defense, and many Chinese are pointing to a double-standard
- China ups pressure on North Korea by detailing list of weapons-related items it won't sell to ally
Move is latest effort by China to increase pressure on isolated ally to rejoin disarmament talks
- Oil rises slightly to above $105 a barrel
Progress in reaching a deal to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons is helping to keep gains in oil prices limited
- Powerful typhoon strikes southern China; 21 dead
Typhoon forced hundreds of flight cancellations, shut down shipping and put a nuclear power plant on alert
- Politician's trial reveals secret world of China's Communist Party
Once a popular rising star in the Communist Party, Bo Xilai faced charges of bribery, abuse of power and embezzlement
- Chinese court gives Bo Xilai life sentence
Court convicted the former Politburo member and Chongqing city Communist Party chief on charges of taking bribes, embezzlement and abuse of power
- South African rhino deaths on track to new record
With 500 rhinos killed so far this year, 2013 is set to top 2012's record of 668 rhinos killed
- Woman survives 16 days in well on rainwater, corn grains
48-year-old fell down Chinese well while looking for wild herbs; doctors calling her survival a miracle
- Body of missing ex-Hollywood stunt pilot David Riggs found in China lake
David Riggs, 1-time Hollywood stuntman who lost pilot's license in U.S. was in China for air show when plane went down 3 days ago
- Chinese mooncake holiday pastry at center of major anti-corruption drive
Mooncakes commonly used as a blinged-out bribe now a target of China president's campaign against corruption
- Paralyzed China taxi driver Ji Zhongxing goes on trial for setting off explosion at Beijing airport
Ji Zhongxing's lawyers say act was desperate plea for attention after alleged police beating left him wheelchair-bound
- China court upholds verdict, 13-year sentence for pol caught in sex-tape extortion scandal
Former Communist Party official Lei Zhengfu stuck with 13-year sentence for accepting $500K in bribes in elaborate extortion plot
- Beijing's next anti-graft target? Mooncakes
China's Communist Party leadership bans the use of public money to buy the pastries and associated gifts
- China to ban new coal-fired power plants around Beijing over pollution concerns
Latest effort to cut air pollution comes with goal of cutting fast-developing economy's reliance on coal power to 65% in 5 years
CBS News Correspondent Celia Hatton Visits the Chengdu Panda Reserve and Breeding Center in Sichuan, China
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Death Toll Grows From Nation's Worst Flood Season in a Decade
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Firefighters Wage 15-Hour Battle Against 100-Foot Flames in Port City
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A Series of Strong Earthquakes Struck China's Western Qinghai Province, Killing Hundreds, Injuring Thousands and Burying Many Others Under Rubble
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President Obama Tours the Great Wall of China
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The President Makes His First Trip to China During an Eight-Day Trip Through Asia
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Communist China Celebrates 60 Years with Parades and Fireworks
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A Vigil In Hong Kong And Tightened Security In Beijing Mark The Anniversary Of The Military Attack On Students
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