2011 report to congress - U.S.-China Economic and Security Review ...

dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with $$_JOB7• Inflation has historically caused problems for the governmentin China. The rural poor and migrant workers are particularlydisadvantaged by higher prices because they are so often reflecteddisproportionately in food and energy, which consume alarger portion of family expenses in rural areas. The governmenthas responded to rising inflation with price controls andsome curbs on bank lending. These tools are inadequate in thelong run. China’s policy of keeping the RMB undervalued inorder to gain an export advantage removes a powerful anti-inflationtool from the central bank.• Income and wealth inequality is a growing problem in China.One cause is the hukou system of residential registration,which was intended to limit the migration of the rural poor tothe cities. This has created a large migrant population inChina, moving from city to city to seek work in factories butunable to access healthcare and education services without theproper hukou designation for that area. This situation perpetuatespoverty among the disadvantaged. Local officials favor it,because it limits their responsibility toward the migrant workers.A smaller group, known as the ‘‘ant tribe,’’ consists of collegegraduates from second-tier schools in rural areas who alsolack the hukou to live in urban areas but who neverthelessseek but are unable to find the jobs that they have trained for.This restive and disappointed population is a potential sourceof unrest.• China’s middle class has been considered by some to be a potentialforce for political reform. But the opposite is likely. Aslong as the party can deliver strong economic growth, particularlyin urban areas, the middle class is likely to remain aforce for stability.• China’s central government has reacted strongly to perceivedchallenges to its authority. It detains and imprisons dissidents.It censors the news and punishes journalists for infractions ofits unwritten and arbitrary rules. China also attempts to controland censor the Internet and has had more success thanmost other authoritarian regimes in suppressing the flow of informationamong the public.China’s Activities Directly Affecting U.S. Security InterestsChina continues to demonstrate progress in its military modernizationefforts. Of note, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) isacquiring specific means to counter U.S. military capabilities andexploit U.S. weaknesses. Since January 2011, China has conducteda flight test of its next-generation fighter aircraft, continued developmentof its antiship ballistic missile, and conducted a sea trialof its first aircraft carrier. These developments, when operational,will allow China to better project force throughout the region, includingthe far reaches of the South China Sea.The PLA’s military strategy is designed to provide the army withthe means to defeat a technologically superior opponent, such asthe U.S. military. As such, it focuses on controlling China’s periphery,especially the western Pacific Ocean, degrading an opponent’stechnological advantages, and striking first in order to gain sur-VerDate Nov 24 2008 13:46 Nov 10, 2011 Jkt 067464 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 G:\GSDD\USCC\2011\067464.XXX 067464