From: s9874194@phobos.ucc.umass.edu (s9874194)
Subject: Re: Are there major ethnic divisions inside China?
Summary: Would there be major ethnic strife should China go democratic?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords: Ethnic, conflict, democracy
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 23:20:00 GMT

In article <1992Sep3.195213.2773@u.washington.edu>, ski@milton.u.washington.edu (Jeff Wasierski) writes...
>Please excuse me if this question has been answered in earlier posts.  
>I havn't been reading this group, but it seemed like the right place to
>ask.
> 
>I, like most other people on this planet, have been watching the conflicts
>that have arisen in the former USSR and what is now left of Yugoslavia since
>they started down the road toward democracy.  Many of the articles I've read 
>lately on China have either been about its swing toward capitalism/consumerism
>or about the clamoring of the people for a more free state.
> 
>My question is:  If China were to make a dramatic course change toward a more
>free, democratic state, do there exist ethnic divisions within the country
>strong enough to create the kind of conflict portions of the former USSR and 
>Yugoslavia are experiencing?  Both the former USSR and Yugoslavia were created
>by uniting other countries, or portions thereof, under the same flag -- and
>maintaining order by way of a strong state.  It's only logical that when that
>strong state goes away, so does the cooperation between the different peoples.
>However, China has always struck me as a relatively homogeneous society --
>similar to Japan (if you will excuse the comparison).  With the obvious 
>exception of Tibet, I can't think of any major ethnic conflicts that would
>break out within the country should its current strong government dissolve.
> 
>That's why I came here.  Any remarks would be appreciated.  If the subject
>is old hat, please feel free to email me directly.
> 
>Thanks.
> 
>-ski
> 
>Jeff Wasierski		ski@milton.u.washington.edu
>			University of Washington
Hello, ski. 

Here is my opinion toward the question you posted.

In general, I think that China has more ethnic coherence compare to former
Soviet Union or Yugoslavia. Except Tibet, Xing Jiang and Mongolia, I do
not see the possibility of ethnic conflicts should there be some dramatic
events. Most of the other minorities have been living have been living 
with the Han majority for long time and have been mixed with each other 
very well. For example, the second biggest nationality I believe is Hui. 
You can see a lot of examples of Han-Hui marrige, Han-Hui cooperation, 
etc. Should there have been some dramatic changes, I would think that
Tibet may has less trouble than Xin Jiang and inner-Mongolia. Those two
parts would more willing to join their counter part on the north
due to the blood, cultural and religious relationship. Most of the
other 50 or so nationalities would still cooperate with each other.

However, the unbalanced development of the economy would very easily
cause some regional conflicts. I just saw the report about the fighting
for water on this net. Also, I heard that some people in Guang Dong are
reluctant to learn Mandarin. They feel that those northerners
("Bei3 Fang1 Lao3") are poor, rough ("cu1"), stupid, do not know how to
make money, etc. Some other regions may have other problems. So, 
if there is a dramatic event, then, regional conflicts would be
inevitable. 

I do not really want to see that our country be divided into pieces.
We won't feel pround of it. It would be shameful if the country is
divided in our generation. I just hope that the democratic change 
will steadily, gradually follow the economic development.

c.q.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china