Asia

’s Sleeping Giants Essay, Research Paper

China and Japan: Asia.s Sleeping Giants

Of all regions in the world aiming for a bright future, none is closer to that goal

than Asia. Asia, also known as the .sleeping giant. accounts for over sixty percent of the

earth.s population with China holding a large amount of the sixty percent. Economically,

Japan is in the forefront of the world with only the United States leading them in the

category of Gross National Product (GNP). Both Japan and China are looked upon by a

great number of people as future leaders of the world. What is remarkable about that

statement is the fact that the two nations, while they might have commonalties, are so

different. Some might assume that two nations in the same region cannot possibly have so

many contrasting traits, but in the case of China and Japan, this is the case. Both China

and Japan do have characteristics that they share such as culture and religion. The

similarities end though when speaking about the health care system, the economy and the

government of both .future superpowers..

The health care system in China is one of the worst in the entire world. One would

think that a nation who has been granted Most Favored Nation status by the United States

would be able to provide their people with adequate health care. The fact is that the

Chinese government does not have the funds to supply adequate health care to their

over-populated nation. Moreover, the government in China faces the difficult task of

whether or not to stress the quality of care to the Chinese people or to spread their

medical resources to as many people as possible without the emphasis on high quality

care. China does have a health insurance system in place that provides free coverage for

people employed in urban state enterprises. The problem with the insurance system is that

eighty percent of China.s workers work in rural areas, not urban areas (China Online).

The poor health system in China contributes to the low life expectancy rates and

high infant mortality rates. Life expectancy at birth for males is sixty-eight years while for

women it is seventy-one years. The infant mortality rate in China is one of the worst in

the country as it has a total of forty infant deaths for every one thousand live births. The

main problem with the health system is not the inability of people to pay for health care,

but the fact that there is an inadequate number of resources. There is not only a lack of

human resources, but of actual medicines and instruments needed to aid the people in

China. While it would be obvious for one to turn to the government for help, the

government in China is the one at fault because all the major medical facilities are run by

the government (China Online).

In contrast to the health care system in China, Japan.s improved health care system

is one of the reasons why the Japanese people are living longer. Because of Japan.s

bolstering economy, the Japanese people enjoy better living conditions and better medical

care. As opposed to health care in China, there are a large number of hospitals all

throughout Japan, not only in urban areas. Besides the numerous amounts of hospitals,

there are also clinics and health care centers spread throughout Japan as well as health

education classes in school. Moreover, the elimination of pandemic diseases has been

possible due to the health care system (Japan Fact Book).

To recognize Japan.s superior health care system, one only has to look at the life

expectancy and infant mortality rates of Japan. While China.s life expectancy rate is

sixty-eight for males and seventy-one for females respectively, Japan.s life expectancy rate

is seventy-six for males and eighty-three for females. The most astonishing statistic is that

of the infant mortality rate compared to that of China. While China has one of the highest

infant mortality rates at forty deaths per one thousand live births, Japan has a rate of four

infant deaths per one thousand live births. Also in contrast to China, the government of

Japan does not have control of a large part of the health care system but has established

hundreds of medical centers throughout the country. The government also provides a

great welfare system for their citizens in that they provide care for the elderly such as free

examinations, home-help services, recreational and financial aid service. Free medical care

is also provided by the government to expectant mothers and to young children who come

from low income families (Japan Fact Book).

While Asia, as a collective unit, can boast of a great economy, it is not due in large

part to China.s help. China is a socialist country in which the government plays a large

role in what is called a command economy. A country with a command economy relies

solely on what the government feels should be produced and sold and not on supply and

demand. Chi

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