' Wrote:Good luck with that:-) Chinas big problem is the difference in development between the West/countryside and the developed East with all the cities, and the overall lack of natural resources/energy. Coal is the only ressource to be found in abundance, and coal coupled with low-grade unefficient power plants --> massive pollution --> no clean drinking water. Add inefficient governance (centralized government with one set of agendas vs. local government with a very different agenda) to this situation, and you have a large-scale problem that cannot be ignored.
It IS already a problem in China, with most cities suffering from water deficits and almost all streams/rivers/areas with high ground water are overexploited. That's why they are scheming to exploit the Mekong river, much to the dismay of the South East Asian countries, who rely heavily on the Mekong.
So nature and an uneven development between West and East puts a cap on China's ventures into space. Not to mention the expected effects of global warming/sea level rise would have on those areas of China that are developed.
Why do you think China allowed South Africa to join the Bric countries, duh? Access to African resources and land, heheheheheheh.