China Country Handbook This Handbook Provides Basic Reference
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
China Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on China, including its ge- ography, history, government, military forces, and communications and trans- portation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to China. The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Hand book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on China. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and gov- ernment personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and desig- nated for support of coalition operations. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this document, to include ex- cerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................. 2 U.S. Embassy, Beijing ................................................ 2 U.S. Consulate, Guangzhou ........................................ 2 U.S. Consulate, Shanghai ........................................... 2 U.S. Consulate, Shenyang ........................................... 2 U.S. Consulate, Chengdu ............................................ 3 U.S. Consulate Hong Kong ......................................... 3 Travel Advisories ........................................................ 3 Entry Requirements ................................................... 3 Passport/Visa Requirements .................................. 3 Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet ............................... 4 Restricted Areas .......................................................... 5 Immunization Requirements ....................................... 5 Customs Restrictions .................................................. 6 GEOGRAPHY AND CLImate ..................................... 6 Geography .................................................................. 6 Borders ................................................................... 6 Bodies of Water ...................................................... 12 Topograp5hy .......................................................... 14 Vegetation .............................................................. 14 Environment ........................................................... 15 Climate ........................................................................ 19 Phenomena ............................................................ 19 TRANSPOrtatION AND COMMUNIcatION .......... 23 Transportation ............................................................. 23 Roads ..................................................................... 23 iii Contents (Continued) Rail ......................................................................... 27 Air .......................................................................... 30 Maritime ................................................................ 31 Communication ........................................................... 32 Radio and Television .............................................. 32 Telecommunication ................................................ 32 Internet ................................................................... 33 Newspapers and Magazines ................................... 34 Postal Service ......................................................... 35 Satellites ................................................................. 35 CULTURE ....................................................................... 35 Statistics ...................................................................... 36 People .......................................................................... 36 Population Patterns ..................................................... 36 People .......................................................................... 41 Ethnic Groups ........................................................ 41 Family ......................................................................... 45 Roles of Men and Women ...................................... 46 Education and Literacy Rates ..................................... 47 Language ..................................................................... 47 Beliefs ......................................................................... 49 Recreation ................................................................... 55 Customs and Courtesies .............................................. 55 Greetings ................................................................ 57 Gestures ................................................................. 57 Visiting ................................................................... 57 Clothing ................................................................. 58 Food ....................................................................... 58 iv Contents (Continued) MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................. 59 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 59 Medical Capabilities ................................................... 62 Key Medical Facilities .......................................... 64 HISTOry ......................................................................... 68 Dynastic Period ........................................................... 68 Early 20th Century China ........................................... 69 The People’s Republic of China ................................. 70 The “Great Leap Forward” ................................... 71 The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution ............ 71 The Post-Mao Era ....................................................... 73 Student Movement, Tiananmen Square ................. 75 Third Generation Leaders ...................................... 77 Fourth Generation Leaders ................................... 78 Taiwan ......................................................................... 79 Chronology of Key Events ..................................... 81 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 83 Government ................................................................. 83 National Level ....................................................... 83 Local Level ............................................................ 87 Politics ........................................................................ 88 Foreign Relations ................................................... 88 Outlook .................................................................. 92 ECONOMY .................................................................... 93 Economic Statistics .................................................... 93 Resources .................................................................... 93 Energy ......................................................................... 94 Science and Technology ............................................. 95 Foreign Investment ...................................................... 96 v Contents (Continued) Threat .......................................................................... 98 Crime .......................................................................... 98 Travel Security ........................................................... 99 Terrorism ..................................................................... 101 Intelligence Services ................................................... 103 Ministry of State Security ...................................... 103 Host Nation Intelligence Threat ............................. 104 Foreign Intelligence Threat ................................... 105 ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 105 Organization ................................................................ 107 State and Party Central Military Commissions ..... 107 Operational Control of the PLA ........................... 108 Rank Structure ............................................................ 109 Army ........................................................................... 110 Mission .................................................................. 110 Organization ........................................................... 110 Facilities ................................................................. 111 Personnel ................................................................ 114 Doctrine ................................................................. 117 Equipment .............................................................. 119 PLA Air Force (PLAAF) ............................................ 124 Mission .................................................................. 124 Organization ........................................................... 124 Personnel ................................................................ 125 Operations .............................................................. 126 Capabilities ........................................................... 126 Training .................................................................