conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form: Zhong Guo
abbreviation: PRC
Data code: CH
Type of government: Communist state
Capital: Beijing
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and
plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3
municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**,
Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei,
Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,
Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong,
Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet),
Yunnan, Zhejiang
note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province
Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty
221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12
February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)
National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949)
Constitution: most recent promulgated 4 December 1982
Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely
criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987;
new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts
are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and
commercial law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice
President RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993) elected by the National
People's Congress; election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held
NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the Eighth
National People's Congress
head of government: Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24
November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988) nominated by the
president, decided by the National People's Congress; Vice Premiers
ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991), ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991),
QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU
Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and JIANG Chunyun (since 17 March
1995) nominated by the president, decided by the National People's
Congress
cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress
(NPC)
Legislative branch: unicameral
National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui): elections
last held NA March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); results -
CCP is the only party but there are also independents; seats -
(2,977 total) (elected at county or xian level)
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the
National People's Congress
Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party (CCP),
JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee; eight
registered small parties controlled by CCP
Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition as
exists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party and
government organization, that vary by issue
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC,
ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN Security Council,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNTSO, UNU,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador LI Daoyu
chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. SASSER
embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 5323831
FAX: [86] (10) 5326422
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller
yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the
middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership
has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style
centrally planned economy to one that is more market-oriented, but
still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control.
To this end the authorities switched to a system of household
responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization,
increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in
industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in
services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to
increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a strong
surge in production. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and
industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near
Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern
production methods helped spur output of both domestic and export
goods. GDP has more than tripled since 1978. On the darker side, the
leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst
results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of
capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus
has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at
intervals. In 1992-95 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly
in the coastal areas - averaging more than 10% annually according to
official figures. In late 1993 China's leadership approved
additional long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to
market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's
control over the financial system; state enterprises would continue
to dominate many key industries in what was now termed "a socialist
market economy." In 1995 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting
tighter monetary policies and stronger measures to control food
prices. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect
revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce
extortion and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large
state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the
vigorous expansion of the economy. From 60 to 100 million surplus
rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many
subsisting through part-time low-pay jobs. Popular resistance,
changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres
have weakened China's population control program, which is essential
to the nation's long-term economic viability. One of the most
dangerous long-term threats to continued rapid economic growth is
the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil
erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the
north. The amount of arable land continues to decline because of
erosion and economic development, the cumulative loss since the
Communist takeover in 1949 being more than 15%. The next few years
will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized
political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.5 trillion (1995 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate with use of official Chinese
growth figures for 1993-95; the result may overstate China's GDP by
as much as 25%)
GDP real growth rate: 10.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 48%
services: 33% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (December 1995 over
December 1994)
Labor force: 583.6 million (1991)
by occupation: agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce
25%, construction and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990
est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% in urban areas (1995 est.); substantial
underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments,
textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers,
consumer durables, food processing, autos, consumer electronics,
telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: 13.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 162,000,000 kW
production: 746 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 593 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet,
barley, cotton, other fibers, oilseed; pork and other livestock
products; fish
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced in
the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem
Exports: $148.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: garments, textiles, footwear, toys, machinery and
equipment (1994)
partners: Hong Kong, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Singapore
(1994)
Imports: $132.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: industrial machinery, textiles, plastics,
telecommunications equipment, steel bars, aircraft (1994)
partners: Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany (1994)
External debt: $92 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid:
donor: to less developed countries (1970-89) $NA
recipient: ODA, $1.977 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.3186 (January 1996), 8.3514
(1995), 8.6187 (1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991)
note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes
the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's
prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 58,399 km
standard gauge: 54,799 km 1.435-m gauge (7,174 km electrified; more
than 11,000 km double track)
narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.762-m gauge local industrial lines (1995)
Highways:
total: 1.029 million km
paved: 170,000 km
unpaved: 859,000 km (1990 est.)
Waterways: 138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km;
natural gas 6,200 km (1990)
Ports: Aihui, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou,
Harbin, Huangpu, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,
Shantou, Tanggu, Xiamen, Xingang, Zhanjiang
Merchant marine:
total: 1,700 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,663,260
GRT/25,026,090 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 316, cargo 876, chemical tanker
15, combination bulk 11, container 103, liquefied gas tanker 4,
multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 227, passenger 24,
passenger-cargo 28, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo
24, short-sea passenger 45
note: China owns an additional 267 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 9,044,039 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,
Hong Kong, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, The Bahamas, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 204
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 17
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 69
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 89
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 20 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic and international services are
increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and
most townships
domestic: telephone lines are being expanded; interprovincial
fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been
installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in
place
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and
1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); several international
fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong
Radio broadcast stations: AM 274, FM NA, shortwave 0
Radios: 216.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 202 (repeaters 2,050)
Televisions: 75 million
Defense
-------
Branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the
Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air
Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force),
People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally
subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the
Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an
adjunct to the PLA in wartime)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 352,506,948
males fit for military service: 194,589,216
males reach military age (18) annually: 9,763,916 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: the officially announced but suspect figure
is 70.2 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion of
the defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate
could produce misleading results
======================================================================
@Christmas Island
----------------
(territory of Australia)
Map
---
Location: 10 30 S, 105 40 E -- Southeastern Asia, island in the
Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Flag
----
Description: the flag of Australia is used
Geography
---------
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 135 sq km
land area: 135 sq km
comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources: phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People
------
Population: 813 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -8.98% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%,
no indigenous population
Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20%
(1991)
Languages: English
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Data code: KT
Type of government: territory of Australia
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of
Australia
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Administrator Danny Ambrose GILLESPIE (since NA)
was appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents
the queen and Australia
cabinet: Christmas Island Shire Council
Legislative branch: none
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Private operators
reopened the mine in 1990 under strict environmental controls, in
particular to preserve the rain forest. A hotel and casino complex
opened in 1993, and tourism is a likely growth sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $NA
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining
Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 11,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)
Agriculture: NA
Exports: $NA
commodities: phosphate
partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NA
commodities: consumer goods
partners: principally Australia
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January
1996),1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2836 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 500 (1992)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 350 (1992)
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
======================================================================
@Clipperton Island
-----------------
(possession of France)
Map
---
Location: 10 17 N, 109 13 W -- Middle America, atoll in the North
Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Flag
----
Description: the flag of France is used
Geography
---------
Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120
km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references: World
Area:
total area: 7 sq km
land area: 7 sq km
comparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Mexico
Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C,
rains May-October
Terrain: coral atoll
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 21 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all coral)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: subject to tornadoes
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: reef about 8 km in circumference
People
------
Population: uninhabited
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Clipperton
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Data code: IP
Type of government: French possession administered by France from
French Polynesia by the High Commissioner of the Republic
Capital: none; administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence: none (possession of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The only economic activity is a tuna fishing
station.
Transportation
--------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
-----------------------
(territory of Australia)
Map
---
Location: 12 30 S, 96 50 E -- Southeastern Asia, group of islands
in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way
from Australia to Sri Lanka
Flag
----
Description: the flag of Australia is used
Geography
---------
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri
Lanka
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 14 sq km
land area: 14 sq km
comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about
nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater
accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut
palms and other vegetation
People
------
Population: 609 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.94% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:
West Island: Europeans
Home Island: Cocos Malays
Religions: Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)
Languages: English
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Data code: CK
Type of government: territory of Australia
Capital: West Island
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Administrator John Bell READ (since NA) was
appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the
queen and Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire
Council; President of the Islands Council Ronald GRANT (since NA)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
-------