China: Friend or Fiend? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Macau

Macau is located on the Western side of the Pearl River Delta. It is a short 40 minute ferry ride from Hong Kong China and is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Almost 700,000 people live on a land mass that is little more than 30 square miles. Macau was rented to Portugal as a trading port in 1557.

In 1887, Macau officially became a Portuguese territory despite the fact that the vast majority of the island's residents are Chinese. On December 20th 1999, sovereignty for Macau was transferred back to China. Macau is a popular tourist destination, and gambling revenues from the Macau casinos now are greater than those of Las Vegas.

Answer: Vietnam

The Third Indochina War is also known as the Sino-Vietnamese War. It started on February 17th 1979 and lasted a little over three weeks until March 16th. It was a border war fought between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Republic of China. The conflict was initiated in response to Vietnam invading Cambodia in 1978. Interestingly, the history books of the respective countries each claim their country won this conflict. The end result was a withdrawal of Chinese troops from Vietnam and border clashes that continued into the 1990s.

Answer: Tibet

Tibet is officially known as the Tibet Autonomous Region by China in the western and central areas claimed officially by Chinese government. China also claims the remainder of the Tibetan plateau. However, exiled Tibetan leadership still holds a very strong political influence and claim to much of the land. India also claims parts of South Tibet and Aksai Chin.

Answer: Cambodia

Cambodia and China do not share a land border but the two countries have strong political and economic links. In the 20th century, China supported the Khmer Rouge throughout the Cambodian Civil War in a conflict against Lon Nol's troops. In 1993, when border conflicts ended and stability was restored to the country, China immediately supported the new democratic government of the country. China continues to be heavily involved economically with Cambodia but many within the country still resent the Chinese for their supporting for the Khmer Rouge that decimated the country through the civil war.

Answer: Taiwan

Taiwan has a long and complicated history in its relations with its near neighbor, China. The island was settled originally by Dutch and Spanish settlers and people from mainland China. In 1662 the Ming loyalist Koxinga established the Kingdom of Tungning and threw out the European settlers. Later the Qing dynasty annexed Taiwan which was eventually ceded to Japan in 1895 although at the time the vast majority of residents were Han Chinese.

In 1912 the Republic of China established itself on the mainland and after Japan's World War II surrender in 1945, they assumed control of Taiwan.

In 1949 the Communist Party took control of mainland China and the ROC (Republic of China) took its government to Taiwan and the surrounding islands. Interestingly the ROC represented China at the United Nations until 1971.

In the 21st century, ties with mainland China continue to be strained. Many Taiwanese seek full independence from China and full recognition by the international community for independence.

Others in government look to reunification with the mainland.

Answer: Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated regions of the world. Almost 8 million people live on a land mass of just 426 square miles. Hong Kong continues to be one of the foremost financial capitals of Asia. In 1842 following the First Opium War, Hong Kong became a British colony and remained so until 1997. For a brief period between 1941 and 1945, Hong Kong was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II. It became the first Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. (Macau became the second in 1999).

Answer: Mongolia

The declaration of independence on December 29 1911 ended over 200 years of subjugation under the Qing dynasty. However, Mongolia soon after became a Soviet satellite state in 1924. A Communist government ruled the country until the revolutions of 1989.

In Mongolia, the revolution was largely peaceful and today the government is described as a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic. China has significant border treaties with Mongolia and continues to be the nation's number one trading partner.

Answer: Japan

China and Japan have two of the top three economies in the developed world. Despite their geographical closeness and economic success, the two nations continue to have a tense relationship. Most of this bad feeling reflects the Chinese people's disappointment that Japan has not accepted full and unqualified responsibility for the atrocities that its forces committed in China in World War II.

In recent years the Senkaku Islands have been a source of conflict with both countries claiming ownership of the East China Sea archipelago.

Answer: Singapore

Singapore was originally a British colony before becoming a part of Malaysia. In 1965 the country officially became independent from Malaysia. A large number of Chinese people call Singapore home and Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken widely. Ties with China are tentative with Singapore maintaining relations with Mainland China (People's Republic of China) and Taiwan (Republic of China). Singapore continues to support a military training facility for its troops on Taiwan which has been a source of disagreement with the PRC.

Answer: Spratly Islands

The Spratly Islands include over 750 atolls, reefs, islands, and other small landforms in the South China Sea. Although none of these islands are inhabited, they are a source of significant oil and natural gas reserves. For this reason, several countries contest China for drilling rights and geographical sovereignty.

These countries include: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Several skirmishes and contentions have arisen between China and the respective countries.