Deng Xiaoping and Reunification
- Tried to assure Taiwanese that if they rejoined China they would still have autonomy
- Doesn’t happen but trade increases between the two
- 1987 Taiwan lifts its ban on travel to the mainland
- Also pushed for reunification of Hong Kong (Xianggang)
- This happens in 1997 and it becomes a Special Administrative Region (SAR)
Deng and Economic Changes
- Coming to power in 1979 institutes agricultural reforms
- Encouraged farmers to sell on the open market
- Also allowed for the contracting of plots of land (excess profits could be kept) ‘productive responsibility system’
- China accepted loans and foreign investments
- Joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and The World Bank
Social Changes, 1980's
- The single child policy introduced in 1979
- Tax benefits to families who accepted this (Some lost their private plots of land)
- Marriage law brought in 1980 (confirmed the rights of women and raised age of marriage M=20 to 22 W= 18 to 20)