A2A

China is so misunderstood there should be a television program on understanding China.

IMO most of the misunderstanding is plain ignorance versus willful mischief. Ignorance is not a put down; it only describes a lack of knowledge. We are all ignorant about certain subjects. As one of many writers on China; it is evident worldwide there is a large ignorance about China.

Most interesting is that several billion people who have never been to mainland China and never researched the country; consider themselves knowledgeable about China. How does that happen? What people have is a (plus or minus) bias about everything; and they choose to hear or read is anything that supports their bias.

My role is to try to inform the misinformed, based on my experience of living in China. As one of a number of writers on China; we all respond to a flood of questions demonstrating a general cluelessness about what China is TODAY. So this time to be brief here is a condensed version of what China is like today:

1- Chinese government propaganda and media manipulation is similar to Western government propaganda with its media all politicized. Remove the names and you can’t tell the difference.

2- #1 Chinese people want a stable society, a safe environment and a good economy.

3- Voting for the Chinese is a low priority, at this time; even though they vote at the village level.

4- Chinese want a better future for their family, education for children, a positive future and make a decent living; followed by a relatively uncorrupt government.

5- 80% of citizens thinks the government is steering the country in the right direction.

6- Nearly 30% of the National People's Congress (their parliament) are not members of the CPC.

7- The government is NOT run by politicians; it is run by technocrats. People with experience and education in fields like economics, engineering, agriculture, finance, etc.

8- Government corruption does not touch most citizens. Bribes, etc. do not happen in the lower ranks of government. The police are trusted by the citizens and do not carry guns or batons.

9- Crime is very low. Women can walk outside at night without fear. Culturally China is not a violent society.

10- China has Sedition Laws and implements them. Everyone in China knows this. Only the reckless and those who think they are self-important will challenge China on this.

11- Religious practice in China is allowed as long as the “organization" follows the laws. I have been to churches, mosques, and temples all over China. They are all open to the public. For some reason certain Christian churches seem to go out of their way to challenge local government and get themselves in trouble, then whine like babies. The church led foreigner leaves; but maybe the congregation is painted as trouble-makers. Christians are a very small minority and locals tend not to pay them any attention.

12- Chinese follow lifestyle philosophies - Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religions. It could be appropriate to refer to them as spiritual, rather than religious. Christianity and Islam is very small, maybe 3% of population each.

13- Most Chinese are very proud of China.

14- The Chinese are not suppressed by the government, and it is not a police state. The majority of people are not interested in leaving China. Yes, some criminals want to, to avoid punishment and others for job opportunities.

15- Chinese people are very practical and do not follow any ideology or dogma. Culturally, family and friends are very important.

This is China today:

Source: https://www.quora.com/How-misunderstood-is-China-by-the-outside-world

I think African countries can get further by borrowing aspects of the Chinese system of government. Democracy is a misfit here.

Muafrika2:
I think African countries can get further by borrowing aspects of the Chinese system of government. Democracy is a misfit here.

Honestly speaking, but the problem is that we might not be lucky with whom we put such responsibility on because most Africans are power drunk--that is the distinction China is having. It is like having so much power and using it to do good as against evil. Personally, our problem is culturally linked which is why no matter the system adopted, it will still be same problem.