China- a victim of the economic model it has adopted

Developed nations in a clever move had shifted their hazardous industries to China in the last two decades and churned out maximum profit from the global market. The margin was more because in China the labor cost, water and electricity cost was too low in comparison to other countries. China manufactured everything to increase its market share. It copied many products, modified and stamped it as made in China. It copied our handicrafts, sarees and jewelry which have a negative impact on our handloom and handicraft sectors. Being a communist dictatorial nation, China imposed capitalism on its people and amassed wealth. With sweeping state power it acquired thousands of villages and water bodies within no time. It had built dams, hydro-electric projects and roads in a very short span. It has built military infrastructure along India’s border for quick troop movement. But in the process China has destroyed its natural capital which will impoverish China in the long run.

There is reverse migration from Chinese cities to interior rural areas as air quality in most of the Chinese cities is not suitable for breathing. If ever China tries to repair its natural capital its economy will collapse as the cost of repair cannot be borne by the Chinese government. The human right problem in China is enormous as its people are suppressed for decades and cannot express their opinion. Dictatorial China has become a capitalist behemoth which is not a natural growth. Today China’s phenomenal growth is on the ruins of its natural sector which China cannot rebuild in the next hundred years.

Its fine handmade silk weaving sector has been destroyed due to mass production of silk in factories. Its handicraft sector which were once world famous is ruined due to machine made products. China produces look alike handicraft items of Indian origin which will not hold the interest of the customers for a long time. Hand crafted items always have an edge over machine made one as machine cannot have a creative edge over the handmade one. It will never look as beautiful and classier like hand made one.

China has destroyed its water resources the way monkey does to a fruit garden. In 50 Chinese cities, nearly 60000 square kilometer of surface water has sunk due to over exploitation. Its Gobi desert is spreading fast and China wants to divert the water from Brahmaputra to prevent Gobi’s spread which may convert Beijing into a desert. China is over damming Brahmaputra to escape from water crisis which may create a bigger crisis in India and Bangladesh. According to WHO, over 26 million people in China suffer from dental fluorosis. The controller of the world’s highest water resources, China has already polluted 70% of its surface water with industrial waste. World Bank has pointed out that 300 million Chinese villagers do not have access to safe drinking water. The Chinese rivers catch fire due to excessive sulphur contents. Its historic and most revered Yellow river is drying up and has lost its stream. The economic cost of diseases like cancer and lungs related diseases in China due to industrial pollution has been estimated at US 10.7 billion in 2003. China is deliberately slowing down its economic growth and plans to repair its natural sector. The economic model which has taught China to amass wealth with an aggressive market economy has not taught the negative effects of the mass production. Though China can protect its border with its strong army but it cannot reduce the sufferings of its 1.4 billion people. The people's discontentment in China is growing very fast.

By Sudhansu R Das