Please state your country of origin when responding, as I am interested in how people from different countries will respond to this.

I am an East Asian Studies major from the US, and I have spent a semester in China, and traveled through some other parts of East Asia. One thing that I find very noticeable when I'm in the US is how little people know about China, even among educated people. They hear some things on the news, and pick up on different Asian generalizations, but they don't know much about China past or present, and sometimes 'know' inaccurate things. This can also lead to a lot of fear about a 'rising China'.

Topics for discussion include:
- What do you know about China?
- What stereotypes of China have you heard/believe?
- What do you wonder about China?
- How do you feel about the 'rising China'?
- What do you think about the prevailing ignorance of the Western World about China?

I'm American, and for the sake of your curiosity, I figure I'd post so you know what it's like first hand here.

I haven't learned much about China and Asia in high school. I'm graduated now, and I realize that the majority of study in the history aspect is focused on ancient history, and is not up to date. If I weren't intelligent, I can honestly say that the only things I could possibly know about China is the fact that most of our poisonous products come from that region (haha). My dad's convinced they're trying to kill us Americans off.

When I do look at it though, I realize that it's much like the US was a couple decades ago. They're wasting material like us, they're polluting like us, they're mass producing like us...it's sad when you can look at what your own country is doing thanks to the example of another.

I don't pretend to know a lot about history, because it was a subject that (although I really enjoy it) was never taught to me properly. I am not the average American that focuses on celebrities and who's going to be the next top singer, however. I'm fairly sure I'm below par on information when it comes to American politics as well. I blame this on a combination of difficulty gaining interest and horrible teaching in my school years.

But you know the average American, they don't believe in history (as made apparent by President Bush and his complete lack of knowledge of the middle east).

I'm sure you hear me completely when I say this as well. You're in college now, and are taking classes specifically focused on history, but I'm sure you can remember how poorly it's taught as general education.

As a closing statement...I know next to nothing XD

I know very little about China. I know that there must be a lot of factories there because a lot of products here in the US are made there. I think that there must be cheap labor there...other wise why would large companies bother paying extra to ship things from there to here?

I think there must be some overpopulation problems there. I had a friend when I was younger who was from China and she said that our government paid us money to have more children (taxes) and their's charged them for having more than one.

And Capitalism...either isn't common or profitable there, I'm guessing at least. It seems like a lot of the people who come to America from China are looking to open up businesses...at least in my experience. But Capitalism is becoming more common there maybe?

I hope I haven't said anything really ignorant and untrue. I really don't know much about China and these aren't things that I've learned from school as facts, they're just speculation based on experience.

China isn't the only country that I don't understand though. I've never been outside of the US and it's very difficult to decide what's true and what's not from what people say about different countries without actually being there. I'd have to go there myself to be sure.

I am living in California, US

I know very little about china. I have heard that china is communist. I know that they were communist at some point, but am not sure if they still are. I know they also used to be an empire.
Some history on china, I know that china was pro-communist north korea and that they fought against south korea to take it over, which created the vietnam war. I also know that japan tried to invade china. I have heard that the great wall of china was built to ward off evil spirits. I also heard that these spirits were only able to travel n a straight line, so they weren't able to go over the wall, thus the usefulness of the wall. The wall is also basically built with dead bodies inside. because they tried to build the wall so fast, they couldn't care for the workers, so many of them died from dehydration, starvation, and other sicknesses. Most of our plastic comes from china because they have the resources. they also grow rice.
That's about all I know. I have a pretty good memory. i hope that im not completely wrong about everything.

I am an American from Nebraska.

When I was in high school I learned practically NOTHING about China except its beginnings in a world history class. Most of what I know is from personal research. I think the education about China will increase as China becomes a bigger economic trader and competitor. Already schools are teaching Chinese as a foreign language rather than the traditional Spanish and French.

I see China as a communist country and nothing less. Thus they care very little for their own people and for the freedoms of speech, religion, and press. They oppress Tibet and other provinces. Though there are Chinese Christians, they must practice underground and not in public.

I also see China as both a friend and advesary. I'm afraid they will overtake the United States and Western ideals and that we will be pushed away as a world power. Clearly they have plenty of people and resources.

I'm from China, so obviously I'm chinese. I was there until I was five, then I moved to America.

From what I've heard, in America there's only bad things listed when it comes to China, "going" to be the cause of the highest carbon for global warming, when US is the leading one now. I could rant on for days, but the only good thing I've heard about it is that it's sponsering the Olympics.

My teacher talked about China, he only listed how wonderful China was back in the old days before Chairman Mao and how much it's progressing, but it took about three weeks for us to learn something good about it.

I'm kind of annoyed about the fact of how little we know, and how little I know about my own country. =.=

I am Chinese, born in Chinese. Still a PRC citizen, actually.

Here in America, I hear China-bashing left and right. It's like a continuation of the communist = bad no matter what, only in this case, China = bad no matter what. They've adopted a capitalist economy, and now they're being called greedy pigs. Is there no way to satisfy the western world? Has the western world not beaten China down enough?

The whole fuss over the Olympics pisses me off especially. Oh boo hoo Chinese gov't is effed up. American gov't is also effed up, so what business do you have bashing the Chinese gov't? Why don't you fix up your own country before telling others what to do. It's not like you're a shining example, Mr. Internment Camp [srsly, who's heard of the Japanese internment camps during WWII?? That's right, VERY FEW PEOPLE]

Do you know what would happen should China put up an embargo? You'd all STARVE. Or at least, not be very comfortable.

Okay I got a bit ranty there. It's a sensitive topic with me. C:

- What do you know about China? I know quite a bit actuactually, despite the fact that schools teach us very little I've done my own research on asia and although I do not agree that communism is the best way to go about things it seems to be working for them...at least to an extent.
- What stereotypes of China have you heard/believe? Chinese merchandice is a cause to worry. I believe this is partially true only because a majority of recalls are from there...I work in retail hence why I know this. However, considering almost all of our merchandise comes from china its a weak basis....I worry about giving there toys to my girls though...
- What do you wonder about China? How much I dont know.
- How do you feel about the 'rising China'? hmmmm....well in all of history China was a country that all other countries fought over for merchandise if they are now using this to there advantage then power to them.
- What do you think about the prevailing ignorance of the Western World about China? Its relatively sad really.

Hummm, what do I know about China?
Well, I'm British, still in school, doing 4 subjects, in of which teaching about china would be very irrelevant.

I know bits and bobs. China has a large population, is holding the olympics and the capital is Beijing. I also remember something about a time in china when, because the population was so big, chinese couples were only allowed one child. They wanted to have boys so they could grow up strong and work to earn the family money, therefore many chinese girls were abandoned or orphaned. Or something like that. My memory's a little rusty >.>;

I hear stereotypes, but I don't believe in them. Labels are for tins of beans, not for people. All of it's bull in my opinion. I would love to visit china and expierence a new way of life, especially martial arts and tai chi. That would be amazing.

Though I'm afraid I know nothing about the 'rising china' >.>;;;
And yes, some members of the Western world are ignorant of the chinese. They're a community, just like we are. They're also people, just like us. There's no reason to label them or stereotype them or be ignorant towards them.

Country of Origin: er.. china? (for all purposes except my passport)

I lived in it for 8 years, so I know this and that. but I don't keep up with the politics much.

And the whole boycotting the Olympics thing: We don't give a damn if you want to act like a stupid kid. We don't even want you there. (at least I don't ^^ )

My current school uses an american curriculum, which, not surprisingly, only talks about america (and it's humongous ego)

Free Quebec plz? =.=

Originally Posted by Nightshade1988

I am an American from Nebraska.

When I was in high school I learned practically NOTHING about China except its beginnings in a world history class. Most of what I know is from personal research. I think the education about China will increase as China becomes a bigger economic trader and competitor. Already schools are teaching Chinese as a foreign language rather than the traditional Spanish and French.

I see China as a communist country and nothing less. Thus they care very little for their own people and for the freedoms of speech, religion, and press. They oppress Tibet and other provinces. Though there are Chinese Christians, they must practice underground and not in public.

I also see China as both a friend and advesary. I'm afraid they will overtake the United States and Western ideals and that we will be pushed away as a world power. Clearly they have plenty of people and resources.

Things like this are excellent examples of the ignorance that quite a few Americans have [I'm not really sorry to be so blunt either].

Communism did not start in China. The Chinese government may have adopted the socioeconomic structure, but human nature being what it is, it is inevitable that the "basic tenets of communism" [that all are equal, and exploiters and oppressors should be severely punished] are ignored by those in power for their own personal gain. That does not make the billion[s] of 'regular' Chinese people evil or oppressive or uncaring.

You hear people worrying about America "losing world power", but what gave them the right to be the sole owner of "world power"? Why is China not entitled to the same "power" that America enjoys?

I'm not denying that China has issues, and some of them are rather big ones. But people need to realise that there exists three 'China's- the land [the collective whole], the government, and the people, and that they are not all one and the same.

[I was born in Hong Kong, currently a citizen of Australia.]

EDIT: Last point: the Olympics have nothing to do with human rights in China. It's meant to be a gathering and celebration, not to set the stage for stupid publicity stunts for whatever organisation.

I'm Asian, specifically Chinese but not from Local China.

I currently live in China, so I think I know quite a bit about its current developing status and such. The history I'm not too good at, but enough for me anyway.

One stereotype that really gets me is when people ask me "omg, does china have, lyke, electricity?" -__-; yes we do really. I admit not ALL places have electricity, but most do. Its pretty much similar to the US (as far as I hear from my friends from the US, I personally have not been out of asia so cant give a personal opinion on this).
Its actually really nice here too. A nice blend of tradition and modernism. Especially since we're getting ready for the Olympics. But then its getting too crowded with buildings... thats my only annoyance.

About the ignorance of the western world about china, I guess it works both ways, I know some chinese who do not know much about the US either. But like I mentioned before, I hear some accusations on China being entirely rural and undeveloped and stuff. I dont mind that there is ignorance, but I really dislike when there are accusations that the person makes when they clearly have no idea what they're talking about.