When advancing at an unprecedented rate, it is easy to forget to turn around and see what he has left in its wake. Since 1978, when China first embraced reform and opening up, the country has been developing at rates not seen by other nations. The world has applauded China's economic advances, efforts to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty, and its potential to overtake the US as the largest economy in the world. Although China has achieved great things in recent decades, such rapid change has a price. Let's take a look at the cost of development of China
Photo :. Yiran Ding Loss of culture
Culture is difficult to define, but as China continues to develop as a country characterized by large modern cities, there has been a noticeable loss of it. China's leadership has long equated modernization with urbanization and economic growth, typified recently by the "renewal" of historical Beijing hutong lanes.
Part "renewal", part 'relocation', the city tore down tents, evicted restaurants, bar owners and rental tenants and re-brick modified windows and doors of the old alleys. in addition, Beijing has closed several local markets in recent years, offsetting the loss of fresh supermarkets Hema Alibaba and convenience stores convenience chain.
While the rails hutongs charm are invariably a draw cultural great for the capital of the country and a great microcosm part appreciated cold for maverick city residents, however, it is fair to say that many buildings were unfit for human consumption room with no running water, heating or insulation. While tourists and the expatriate community can mourn the loss of their favorite drinking holes shabby-chic, poor local actually living in the hutongs are possibly better - and in fact, many argue to this effect - in newly built apartments elsewhere
But Beijing is not alone .. The major cities across China are dealing with overpopulation, and by any "reform" led by the government or illegal subdivision of housing and continuous rise in rents, fewer resources are forced to move to increasingly distance kingdoms. This course is equivalent to a loss of diversity in terms of cultures, food, dialects and art go hand with organic growth of burgeoning cities. In its attempt to modernize, local authorities can be found govern aesthetically impeccable cities but increasingly homogenised. Tourism Made
Poverty reduction is one of the key promises of China, to be achieved by the end of 2020. A large part of the playbook for this purpose has been geared towards the establishment of "rural tourism "allowing urban residents burned to go to rural and agricultural assistance or pick fruit, exploring the theme parks tailored and just enjoy nature.
While the unit has been successful on paper - a total of 1.51 billion rural tourist trips made during the first half of 2019, providing employment to 8.8 million people - the "movement" is far from organic, tourism and building new parks feel and look to the manufactures as they are.
Another big boost for tourism has come in the form of "intangible cultural heritage", the only artistic expressions that are being unearthed, encouraged, promoted and protected by Chinese laGobierno. The government has subsidized training classes for these art forms, leading to an influx of interest from impoverished citizens, as well as an increase in tourism in the back of the urbanites wealthy hungry for experience "authentic" during his annual holiday.
China's efforts have also paid off in this department. In 2018, there were about 65,500 actions related to intangible cultural heritage and activities 16,800 popular culture, attracting 98 million pairs of eyes, according to a report by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. However, even though there may be a growing interest in both Chinese culture and domestic tourism, still feels, and it is manufactured. This is especially evident when we see that many of these so-called wealth be modernized and adapted to current trends. "Some heirs of wood paints, paper cutting and porcelain have been sent to institutions of higher education to obtain data on changes in social needs. . Its products have absorbed modern fashions and characteristics ", an article by Xinhua proudly proclaims 2019
It is also certainly an exaggeration; China has 1,372 cultural programs representative of intangible heritage under state protection compared to only 40 programs in the list of the intangible cultural heritage. Call me a cynic, but there is a reason why not all make the cut of UNESCO. Loss of interest in China
As China becomes more main stream and gentrified, which will, in my opinion, be less attractive to foreign tourists and expatriates. "Glory days" of China for expatriates are over, with both visa regulations and tightening Internet, and the country is rapidly losing vibrating authentic "Wild East" that attracts adventurous globetrotters.
Although this could be the case of foreigners, however, is not necessarily a bad thing for Chinese citizens. As life becomes "better", a growing number of Chinese who studied abroad are returning to find work or start businesses on the mainland. China strengthening national labor market and favorable policies, along with Western countries toughen immigration laws have encouraged Chinese graduates return home in waves. According to the Ministry of Education, between 2014 and 2019 the rate of return of Chinese students studying abroad has remained above 78 percent.
China's development also makes it less attractive for foreign companies cheaper target countries in Southeast Asia as the pivots of the countries of the "factory of the world" technological power and a nation of consumers. While beneficial to the economy and the environment both in China, this pivot, along with a community of expatriates ozone could see China loses out in terms of external innovation and thought. Now the world is set on selling their products to China instead of developing them with her. Increased regulation
If you want things to change in China, it is necessary to control and modify the behavior of 1.3 billion people. That requires rules and laws, which China has been rolling out dumpling dough as Spring Festival in recent years. The Chinese government, recognizing that limits freedom of expression and privacy that allows better monitoring of potentially problematic social issues, has been collecting data without rest, while marking and closing of "dissenting voices".
In addition to more and more websites are consumed by Great Firewall of the country (from October 2019 about 10,000 domain names are blocked in mainland China), other regulations have been tightened. For example:.
● June 2017 - a new law on cyber security came into force requires high-tech companies to store important data on servers in China, which could make it easier for government to track and Internet users pursue a
● September 2017 - China banned cryptocurrencies and initial offers coin (an IPO for cryptocurrency)
● October 2017 - Administration cyberspace China issued a regulation according to which Internet companies and service providers are responsible for requesting and verify the real names of users when they register and must immediately report illegal content to the authorities
● December 2019 -. A Financial Times report says that Beijing ordered government offices to replace PCs with software foreign and domestic products over the next three years.
● Above all, many analysts are concerned about credit system China Mirror Social Black style, which allocates and removes "points" that can affect tangibly life of citizens, businesses and other organizations.
However, thanks to strict regulations and supervision hawk, China is one of the safest, the automated, intelligent and convenience countries in the world. And despite the restrictions invade, not of particular concern to many Chinese citizens. Dr. Zhang Weining, associate professor at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, told Business Insider, "We have no privacy in China traditionally" adding, "All young people are busy chasing their dreams, and the elderly don 't care. That means that privacy is not the highest priority in the lives of people ".
The development of China is unprecedented, and is certainly impressive what the country has been able to achieve in a short period of time. However, there is always a cost, or more in the case of China, such dizzying metamorphosis. In the end, whether China will work to develop in a way that minimizes these costs, or will end up being a highly developed country, with a lack of authentic culture, widespread marketing and that stifling regulation that many are probably wondering if it was better before.
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