Understanding China

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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.

By Minxin Pei

Published on Aug 10, 2008

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

In The Media
How China Can Avoid the Next Conflict
- Minxin Pei
In The Media
Small Change
- Minxin Pei

Political Reform Military China

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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Understanding China

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Baku’s backing for Ukraine is less about confronting Russia than about quietly broadening the mix of partners it relies on.

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