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Source: Getty

In The Media

Understanding China

The Olympic Games cap a decade of Chinese re-engagement with the world and demonstrate China's newfound confidence on the world stage. Despite these investments, the government has not done a good job of fulfilling its basic responsibilities regarding environmental quality and improved healthcare for citizens.

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By Minxin Pei
Published on Aug 10, 2008
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The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

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Source: Fareed Zakaria's GPS

The Olympic Games cap a decade of Chinese re-engagement with the world and demonstrate China's newfound confidence on the world stage. The Chinese government has spent $45 billion on the Games, a figure that represents 1.5% of the country's GDP. Minxin Pei suggests that despite these investments, the government has not done a good job of fulfilling its basic responsibilities regarding environmental quality and improved healthcare for citizens.  

Click here for the transcript.

About the Author

Minxin Pei

Former Adjunct Senior Associate, Asia Program

Pei is Tom and Margot Pritzker ‘72 Professor of Government and the director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College.

    Recent Work

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    How China Can Avoid the Next Conflict

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    Small Change

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Minxin Pei
Former Adjunct Senior Associate, Asia Program
Minxin Pei
Political ReformMilitaryChina

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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