No, China is still governed by the Communist Party. It is a Party that has evolved well-beyond the turbulence to the Mao years, but its the same dynasty. The CCP is awake to their population/resources problem, and they've begun to loosen their control over private ownership of businesses. State owned and run businesses are on the decrease, but a certain amount of central control is retained. The results of the CCPs new policies have been dramatic. The economy has been growing at a phenomenal rate with no signs yet of inflation. There is a wider selection of consumer products available, and the number of consumers is up. Where once the bicycle ruled supreme, now China's roadways are being increasingly stressed by gas-guzzling automobiles with little pollution control.
The CCPs attempt to slow the growth rate has been uneven. Births are down, but not by nearly enough to keep the population within manageable limits. Traditional ways still prevail over most of the countryside, but in the urban areas a new Chinese cult of narcissism seems to be growing. Large scale public works like the big dam may add considerable amounts of rich agricultural soil. Depending upon how the land is managed, that may reduce the risk of flood and famine for years to come. On the other hand, Chinese agriculture has a number of problems that will also probably remain unresolved for years to come. So far the CCP has shown itself flexible enough to make long over due changes in their economic structure.
But the story isn't over, and we all don't get to live happily ever after. China is facing some problems that could easily topple the CCP leaving chaos in its wake. Flood, Famine and Disease have always been recurring themes in China's long history, and the traditional Chinese culture was well adapted to the cycles. After the KMT was ousted and for a couple of generations thereafter unremitting war has been waged on tradition and peasant folkways. Molding Chinese peasants into Soviet Man has been a political and economic failure, but still the old ways can never be called back. The CCP will not gracefully retire, but will fight tenaciously for survival of the system, if not the regime. They will, if pushed to the wall become a threat well beyond the region. The CCP has long been engaged in espionage around the world, with its primary focus being advanced military technology, and industrial trade secrets.
China has the same stake in Iran that the United States has. Both need oil. To get oil out of Southwest Asia and into their economic systems. That requires regional stability. and predictable production/cost rates. Wars and military conflict have an unfortunate tendency to make things unpredictable, and for valuable property to be damaged or destroyed. Neither China nor its new trading partners in the world want military conflict. Everyone wants Iran to come to its senses and drop its nuclear weapons programs ... nukes are bad for business. Iran, it seems is determined to throw the dice ... and it seems like that might workout in the short run.
Iran wants to sell oil to China, and that may give China some small influence, but not much. After all, the Iranian Mullah's despise the Communists even more than they hate materialistic Christians and Jews. Nor are the Iranians foolish enough to try terrorist tactics on the CCP who is known to have many less scruples than any US administration. The Chinese probably feel similar contempt for the Iranians, but business is business and the New CCP is more interested in business than ideology. Anyone have late news on an oil pipline between Iran and China?
Finally, just a word .........
Tico and Anon, ye're both far too quick to be offended and responde by sling around angry words. I think that Anon did say somethings that can easily be found offensive to our servicemen. From what I'm told the Anon's remarks were made in a moment of passion and were directed at a small group of soldiers accused of criminal wrongdoing, not US soldiers in general. However, I think that you may have overreacted. Time to let it go now. Please don't bring up that particular incident again. Please.
Anon, the more I come to know you the more I have the sense that you are a bitter man, and angry a lot. Given your history, that is understandable and I'm sure almost any of us in similar circumstances would be just as bitter and angry as you seem to be. Time to let it go now. The men who hurt you I presume were arrested and have been punished. They were criminals, the not the US Army or the government.
Taco need not be your enemy, but he can never be anything more so long as you both continue this feud. It does no honor to either of you to continue sniping at one another. Try the occasional act of kindness, be a little patient, and above all be more careful of your language it is loaded and dangerous ... never point it at a person. This incident should demonstrate to you, and many others, how a few hot words hastily posted can be taken far differently than you intended. Once words have been released out into the world, they can not be called home. The more shocking or momentous the words the longer they will remain in memory. I truly hope, as a new friend, that you can overcome the bitterness and bank the anger so that it doesn't burn up the life you have left.
Say, Amen children
