China inTransition, Volume 1

China is a country in the midst of a transition which is inscrutable to almost all observers. The leadership has changed from the ‘old guard’ to the ‘new guard’ with hardly a slip. Capitalism is roaring but somehow at the same time doesn’t exist. The economy is booming in virtually all areas. The military is growing more powerful each year, many industries are at world level, and China is taking more and more steps to join the international community while being sure as she doesn’t snuggle up too closely. Still, with a population of 1.3 billion and staggering poverty in the rural areas making up the vast part of the country, the face of China remains centuries old. Where she goes, nobody knows. This series examines the issues, policies and progress of China’s transition.