Tyrene White - China briefing 2000: the continuing transformation

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www.asiasociety.org

The Asia Society is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public education organization dedicated to increasing American understanding of Asia and broadening the dialogue between Americans and Asians. Through its programs in policy and business, the fine and performing arts, and elementary and secondary education, the Society reaches audiences across the United States and works closely with colleagues in Asia.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual contributors.

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C HINA B RIEFING 2000

The Continuing Transformation

Tyrene White
Editor

Published in cooperation with the Asia Society
Mai Shaikhanuar-Cota, Series Editor

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Copyright 2000 by Asia Society

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the publisher, M.E. Sharpe, Inc.,
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, New York 10504.
www.mesharpe.com

Library of Congress ISSN: 0740-8005
ISBN 0-7656-0612-7 (c)
ISBN 0-7656-0613-5 (p)

BM (c) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
BM (p) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

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The twentieth century opened and closed with Chinese attacks on U.S. diplomatic offices in Beijing. These oddly symmetrical events serve as unsettling bookends to a century during which China has literally risen up and become engaged in the international communityand how the world, and particularly the United States, has responded to that engagement. At the start of the century China was a reluctant international actor. By the end of the century, China is a force with which the world must reckon.

This volume of China Briefing 2000: The Continuing Transformation examines China at the turn of the twentieth century. The topics discussed are extensive and cover the period 199799, coming right to the cusp of the twenty-first century. Many of the chapters were completed over the summer of 1999 and anticipate developments in the Sino-American relationship, particularly the agreement between the United States and China on terms for China's entry into the World Trade Organization. Invariably the significance of this event is hard to measure without the benefit of time. Throughout the book, the authors provide valuable insights into understanding China at the end of this century. They provide cogent and penetrating explorations of China's economy, political environment, growing consumer culture, society, international relations, and gender relations. As a result, the reader will be rewarded with new and personal insights into many of the topics addressed in this book.

Our deepest appreciation goes to Tyrene White, editor of this volume. She conceived of the general outline of the book and selected chapter authors. Each chapter author is to be commended for accepting the challenge of drawing conclusions about the last century of Chinese history and for attempting to peer into the future. We appreciate the efforts of the editor and the authors who worked hard to complete the volume in the very short time they were given to do so. As always, the content of the chapters and views expressed therein are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Asia Society.

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The Society also thanks Patricia Farr, Peter Smith, and Rayne Madison who assisted in the production of this book. We also thank our colleagues at M.E. Sharpe, notably Doug Merwin, Diana McDermott, Angela Piliouras, and Patricia Loo, who continue to support our country briefing series. At the Society we would like to thank Robert W. Radtke and Michelle Caswell for their assistance, and Mai Shaikhanuar-Cota, who worked tirelessly to ensure continuity between this edition of