China: history, politics, and society

¶ … threat China poses to the U.S., the region, and the world. Many experts and political advisors believe China poses a threat to the United States and the world in a variety of ways. One of the biggest threats to the entire planet is China's pollution and ecological stance, which is quite destructive to the environment and could have global and regional ramifications. The biggest threat to the United States may be the economy, including tainted Chinese imports, because they have so many health and welfare ramifications.

Regionally and globally, China poses a threat to the environment, global warming, and pollution in a variety of ways. Pollution stretches from the thriving urban areas throughout China to the rural areas, and includes air pollution, but water pollution is another aspect of the environmental crisis facing China. Thus, China faces several areas of environmental concern, and given its size and influence in the region, it is a danger to itself, but also neighboring countries and the world. Two environmental writers note, "But, along with these gains, it [China] is grappling with environmental problems that could prevent it from sustaining high levels of economic growth in the coming decades. This is a crucial issue for the entire global community, given China's geographic, economic and demographic presence."

This threat exists for a number of reasons, and it is clear that the environmental threat in China is not being managed effectively, and so it could mushroom in the 21st century.

First, China's economy has skyrocketed in the last 28 years, taking it from a relatively minor player in the world economy to one of the fastest growing nations on the planet. While this has led to growth in China's cities and rural communities, and brought jobs to millions of people, it has also lead to incredible growth in the use of natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, and coal to fuel their power plants, industries, and automobiles. There has also been a rapid shift in population, with population growth in the cities up over 50% since 1980, and much more growth is expected through the year 2020, which an expected 600+ million people living in China's cities. This large influx of growth in the cities is leading to overcrowding, more air pollution, and a general decay in the quality of life for most Chinese people.

Air quality in some of China's largest cities has become increasingly poor as industry and the population moves toward the cities. It is also the most visible of China's pollution problems so it receives more attention from the media and visitors to the cities. During a recent television broadcast of an athletic event held in China, the indoor arena showed a marked "fog" or haze near the roof of the building, and the announcers commented that it was smog from the city sifting into the building, and that the athletes were having problems breathing with all the smog in the area. Much of this pollution is from cars, but there is another reason the Chinese cities are so dirty, they rely on coal-fired electrical plants for most of their electricity, and this is one of the dirtiest and least efficient types of electrical generation in the world. The two authors note, "In Beijing, for example, coal burning contributes 90% of sulphur dioxide, 50% of nitrogen oxide and 40% of TSPs in the atmosphere (in addition, construction sites are responsible for 50% of dust, and nitrogen oxide from vehicle emissions 'is reportedly the number one winter pollutant in Beijing')."

This heavy coal-fueled pollution also adds to acid rain that affects the country and neighboring countries as it sifts down through the atmosphere and causes damage to buildings, cars, and the agricultural soil.

There is another aspect to the environmental pollution in China that may not be readily apparent. So much pollution and environmental impact in the country can cause serious health problems among the Chinese population, which could lead to a reduction in life expectancy and poorer worker productivity. The three economists continue, "Pollution poses serious health risks to the population, and this could undermine worker productivity. According to the World Bank, 20 out of the world's most polluted cities are in China."

Two other researchers note that indoor air pollution is also on the rise, and that it is causing more deaths than ever before in the country. They say, "[G]lobal meta-analyses of epidemiologic studies indicate that indoor air pollution from solid fuel use in China is responsible for approximately 420,000 premature deaths annually, more than the approximately 300,000 attributed to urban outdoor air pollution in the country."

Thus, while productivity is high today, as pollution increases, worker productivity could slow, which could create havoc in China's growing economy. In addition, there could be an even higher death rate, leading to a loss of workers throughout the area. Much of their production is based on very low worker costs, and a loss of productivity could see these costs rise, leading to higher prices for Chinese exported goods, and a slump in sales in the United States and elsewhere.

Most people think of air pollution, which is the most visible sign of China's ecological problems, but water and water-related pollution may really be the biggest factor facing China today. Three economists say, "Some 400 Chinese cities are regarded as short of water, while more than 100, including Beijing, are 'acutely short'. Excessive over-extraction of ground water, meanwhile, is causing cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin and Xian to subside."

In addition, this lowering of the groundwater is leading to land cave-ins and seawater invasion in many of China's costal areas, which is reducing the amount of arable land along China's coastline.

The researchers continue, "Each year, factories discharge some 36 billion tons of untreated industrial wastewater and raw sewage into rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Overall, only 5% of household waste and about 17% of industrial waste receive any treatment before entering local irrigation ditches, ponds, lakes, and streams."

Thus, water pollution is an even greater threat to human life and the region, because China's rivers and watershed reach not only her own country, but also many of the bordering Asian countries, such as Vietnam, India, Nepal, and several Russian states. Thus, pollution in China's lakes, rivers, and streams has far-reaching effects for the entire region, including loss of water quality, increased disease, and other health related issues, including an increase in water-borne insects that carry diseases, such as mosquitoes and liver flukes, both of which are health hazards as well as pests.

Many financial experts see the booming trade with China as beneficial to the U.S. economy. Three economists write, "Low-cost imports from China have helped restrain inflation and increased the purchasing power of U.S. consumers, and boosted demand for other products. This has helped U.S. production to shift into areas where the United States has a comparative advantage."

While low-cost imports may be helping many facets of the American economy, the recent recalls of many Chinese goods indicate that China has a problem with quality control and regulation issues, and these could pose serious threats to United States consumers in a variety of areas. The media has covered many of the Chinese manufactured toy recalls, the vast pet food recall that led to many pet deaths, and even items like toothpaste that were contaminated with ingredients that could cause cancer. However, there are many other products that are imported from China every week, and many of those products are tainted too, yet their recalls and banning often does not make the news, so consumers do not know that the food they are eating or have eaten could be unsafe. Another author notes, "The FDA last month banned five types of non-inspected fish from China, including shrimp. China is the top foreign supplier of fish to the U.S., which consumes more shrimp than any other fish."

Since many consumers probably do not observe food packaging and where their food originates, they could be eating Chinese imported products and not be aware of it. This is extremely dangerous for a number of reasons, including the fact that the FDA inspects so few foreign food shipments, so tainted food would have no problem making its way into the country. Author Comerford continues, "The FDA estimates it inspects about 1% of imported foods, and of the Chinese shrimp it has inspected, a fourth showed unallowable levels of antibodies."

Part of the problem is the lack of inspection when products reach the United States, but another part of the problem, and another reason it poses such a danger to the country, is the lack of regulation and inspection in China itself. There are few regulations in China, and little quality control. A study indicated that Chinese foods routinely contain a number of ingredients that would be banned here in America, such as formaldehyde, paraffin wax, mineral oils, industrial (not food quality) dyes, and even key ingredients in plastics and anti-freeze.

Yet Americans eat these products, never realizing the dangers they may face as a result. Of course, the 2007 pet food scandal is also a result of this same lack of regulation and inspection in China. Pet food manufactured here in the United States and in Canada contained melamine, an ingredient used in the manufacture of plastic dinnerware, but also a key ingredient in many fertilizers. It sickened thousands of dogs and cats, and hundreds died as a result of eating the tainted pet food. This incident helped bring the dangers of Chinese imported food and other products into focus, and made it much more real for many Americans. As a result, many people are becoming more vigilant about Chinese products, and some Congressmen have called for bans on all Chinese foods that are not inspected, but that has not occurred.

Clearly, this poses a danger to American consumers, and it is one reason that Chinese imports are the biggest threat to America.

However, Chinese foods are not the only products tainted by unsafe or unsavory ingredients. Millions of Chinese toys have been recalled during 2007, mostly due to lead paint used to decorate the toys, but for other reasons, as well. Cribs manufactured in China have been recalled due to safety issues, and even Chinese-made ATVs have been recalled for an appalling list of faults, including the lack of front and parking brakes, and the ability to start the ATV in gear. Chinese ATV tires have also been recalled because the tread separates, posing a safety threat, as well.