China

<p>China is the planet&#8217;s most populous country and second largest by land mass. Its civilization is one of the world&#8217;s oldest, and it has maintained an advanced economy for two millennia. A single-party socialist state, China has been governed by the Communist Party since the establishment of the People&#8217;s Republic of China in 1949 under <a title="More news and information about Mao Zedong" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/mao_zedong/index.html">Mao Zedong</a>, who would usher in both the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward.</p> <p>China has become one of the globe&#8217;s fastest-growing post-industrial economies since reforms were put into place in 1978 by <a title="More news and information about Deng Xiaoping" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/d/deng_xiaoping/index.html">Deng Xiaoping</a> and his supporters, and its rapid industry growth since then has led to competition with the United States and Europe. China&#8217;s expanding economic and global influence and perceived authoritarianism have contributed to its image as a formidable world power and played into both <a title="More news and information about the South China Sea" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/southchinasea/index.html">regional clashes</a> and accusations of <a title="More news and information about Internet Censorship in China" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/china/internet_censorship/index.html">censorship</a> and civil rights violations.</p> <p>Keep up to date on breaking news in China and explore our extensive archive below.</p>