NPR Series: China in the 21st Century https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5040784 China's rapid and historic transformation is reverberating around the world. An ongoing series examines how economic, political and cultural changes in China are affecting the country, its neighbors and the United States, through discussions with experts and authors. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:55:55 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: China in the 21st Century https://www.npr.org/series/5040784/china-in-the-21st-century Beijing Wary as Religion Flourishes in China Beijing estimates that there are more than 200 million religious believers in China. But some officials worry that even sanctioned religious groups represent a challenge to communist ideology. Richard Madsen, author of <em>China's Catholics</em>, talks about the country's dramatic religious revival. Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/08/24/5704322/beijing-wary-as-religion-flourishes-in-china https://www.npr.org/2006/08/24/5704322/beijing-wary-as-religion-flourishes-in-china

Beijing estimates that there are more than 200 million religious believers in China. But some officials worry that even sanctioned religious groups represent a challenge to communist ideology. Richard Madsen, author of China's Catholics, talks about the country's dramatic religious revival.

(Image credit: Frederic J. Brown)

]]> Chinese-Japanese Relations Two Asian giants, China and Japan, are struggling to get along. Their issues include disputed oil rights, military buildups, national pride, and the legacy of the second world war. Neal Conan leads a discussion on how the growing power struggle in Asia affects the rest of the world. Thu, 30 Mar 2006 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/30/5312158/chinese-japanese-relations https://www.npr.org/2006/03/30/5312158/chinese-japanese-relations Two Asian giants, China and Japan, are struggling to get along. Their issues include disputed oil rights, military buildups, national pride, and the legacy of the second world war. Neal Conan leads a discussion on how the growing power struggle in Asia affects the rest of the world.

]]> Is India the Next China? Many see China as an emerging colossus, but India is working hard to catch up. Both project remarkable economic growth but in very different political, military and cultural contexts. Guests on the program discuss India and China, and the economics of the 21st century. Thu, 23 Feb 2006 18:40:12 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/02/23/5230224/is-india-the-next-china https://www.npr.org/2006/02/23/5230224/is-india-the-next-china Many see China as an emerging colossus, but India is working hard to catch up. Both project remarkable economic growth but in very different political, military and cultural contexts. Guests on the program discuss India and China, and the economics of the 21st century.

]]> China Moving 'From Comrade to Citizen' China's capitalist economy inevitably affects its Communist politics. Party controls are less stringent and there are glimmers of political diversity. Scholar Merle Goldman discusses political change in China, and her new book, <EM>From Comrade to Citizen.</EM> Wed, 18 Jan 2006 16:12:13 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/01/18/5161959/china-moving-from-comrade-to-citizen https://www.npr.org/2006/01/18/5161959/china-moving-from-comrade-to-citizen China's capitalist economy inevitably affects its Communist politics. Party controls are less stringent and there are glimmers of political diversity. Scholar Merle Goldman discusses political change in China, and her new book, From Comrade to Citizen.

]]> China's Rapid Development and the Environment Critics say that China's rapid economic growth leads to pollution in the air and water, and leaves mountains of untreated waste. In one recent incident, an explosion at a Chinese chemical plant spilled benzene into a major river, cutting off the water supply to thousands. As part of an ongoing series on China in the 21st century, experts and guests examine the country's environmental record. Wed, 21 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2005/12/21/5064697/chinas-rapid-development-and-the-environment https://www.npr.org/2005/12/21/5064697/chinas-rapid-development-and-the-environment Critics say that China's rapid economic growth leads to pollution in the air and water, and leaves mountains of untreated waste. In one recent incident, an explosion at a Chinese chemical plant spilled benzene into a major river, cutting off the water supply to thousands. As part of an ongoing series on China in the 21st century, experts and guests examine the country's environmental record.

]]> Rob Gifford: Letters from China For six years, Rob Gifford covered China for NPR News. From Beijing to the North Korean border to the Muslim Northwest, Gifford reported on an extraordinary economic and cultural transformation. Wed, 16 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2005/11/16/5015333/rob-gifford-letters-from-china https://www.npr.org/2005/11/16/5015333/rob-gifford-letters-from-china

For six years, Rob Gifford covered China for NPR News. From Beijing to the North Korean border to the Muslim Northwest, Gifford reported on an extraordinary economic and cultural transformation.

]]> New Bio Offers Sinister View of Chairman Mao <EM>Mao: The Unknown Story</EM> was written by Jung Chang, who described the suffering of her family during the cultural revolution in the bestseller <EM>Wild Swans</EM> and her husband, the historian Jon Halliday. Thu, 20 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/10/20/4967077/new-bio-offers-sinister-view-of-chairman-mao https://www.npr.org/2005/10/20/4967077/new-bio-offers-sinister-view-of-chairman-mao Mao: The Unknown Story'/>

Mao: The Unknown Story was written by Jung Chang, who described the suffering of her family during the cultural revolution in the bestseller Wild Swans and her husband, the historian Jon Halliday.

]]> China's Technological Leap Forward Centuries ago, China was the center of the world in innovation. In coming years, the country may push itself back to that lofty status. <EM>Time</EM> magazine correspondent Bill Powell and John Seely Brown, former director of the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, look at the high-tech future of China. Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/08/25/4815551/chinas-technological-leap-forward https://www.npr.org/2005/08/25/4815551/chinas-technological-leap-forward

Centuries ago, China was the center of the world in innovation. In coming years, the country may push itself back to that lofty status. Time magazine correspondent Bill Powell and John Seely Brown, former director of the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, look at the high-tech future of China.

]]> The New China: Opportunity or Threat? China both competes with and contributes to the U.S. economy. A look at the new China with Bill Powell, Shanghai correspondent for <EM>Time</EM> and Clyde Prestowitz, author of <EM>Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East.</EM> Thu, 21 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/07/21/4759625/the-new-china-opportunity-or-threat https://www.npr.org/2005/07/21/4759625/the-new-china-opportunity-or-threat Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East'/>

China both competes with and contributes to the U.S. economy. A look at the new China with Bill Powell, Shanghai correspondent for Time and Clyde Prestowitz, author of Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East.

]]> Neal Conan