China - Comparing Environmental Policies in 16 Countries - page 239

9
China
Environmental policy in China is far different than in Western democra-
cies. Its Communist regime since 1949, its isolation from the West, and
its huge population make it unique. Sadly, it is infamous for severe air
and water pollution. Its ambitious Three Gorges Dam and South-North
water diversion have generated criticism from Europe and America. Its
One Child Policy has been condemned. Yet China has not been totally
isolated. It has had its own Environmental Decade passing laws to protect
the air and water. Three centuries ago Europe eagerly copied its gardens.
And, of course, it has many similarities to the communist Soviet Union.
Archaeological evidence demonstrates neolithic settlements along the
Yellow River dating to 14,000 years ago. At the Banpo site at Xi'an, villagers
were cultivating millet and making pottery 9,000 years ago. Remains of a
bronze smelter from 4,000 years ago testify to early mining and refining.
Although agriculture and metal working put more pressure on the land
than hunting and gathering, the population was small so the damage was
slight and localized.
In size, China is comparable to the 48 contiguous United States, extend-
ing 5,000 kilometers from central Asia to the Pacific and 3,000 kilometers
from Russia and Mongolia to the South China Sea. The country is geo-
graphically isolated. On the west, the Himalaya Mountains and high
plains and deserts of central Asia form a barrier. The northern bound-
ary with Siberia is cold and sparsely inhabited. Oceans on the east and
south protect it from invasion, but also are an avenue for navigation and
trade. To the west the Tibetan Plateau is high and dry, marked on the
southwest by Zhumulangma Peak, or Mount Everest, as it is known to
Westerners. Mountains extend over nearly the entire country, decreasing
the land available for farming to only 11% of the total. Nearly all of the
population lives in the eastern half of the country, especially along the