The Comeback: China on China (Enhanced DVD)

Producers aptly named this DVD because it is about China returning to its former glory. Many forget that China used to be a global economic powerhouse up until the early 1800s. Now, the nation has re-gained that status.

Fear and admiration from other nations are recurring themes. Viewers hear early in the film from government officials and businesspersons expressing a fear of a rising China. The rapid growth of this economic giant means it will inevitably replace the United States as the largest economy.

Yet, at the same time, there is a healthy respect for China’s progress, much of which took place over a brief thirty-year period. Despite remaining a Communist nation, the Chinese have been willing to embrace capitalism. Believers in the free market have to admit, even if grudgingly, that China has done an impressive job of rising from widespread poverty to second-largest economy in short order.

Another important angle tackled in this production is Chinese foreign investments. China has begun searching for other markets for its products besides the United States, Europe and Latin America. To this end, the film explores Chinese incursions into the African continent.

This is a complex portrayal of Chinese involvement overseas. Viewers learn of the millions spent building infrastructure in various African nations. It is obvious that China has decided to be a major player in Africa’s future development. Whether the heavy investment in Africa will ultimately benefit the people there or those back home in China is the issue up for debate in the documentary.

The film is about China’s rapid rise to world power status. We learn what this reality means for competitors, especially the United States. China, as we hear early in the documentary, is neither friend nor foe of other economic giants. This documentary is important for its in-depth discussion of what a powerful China means for the Asian nation and the rest of the world.

The Comeback: China on China

• Enhanced DVD
• ISBN: 978-0-81608-811-9
• Run Time: 29 Minutes
• Copyright Date: 2012
• CC