Quote:
Originally Posted by elphenor
Mao industrialized China without which it could not compete
and you're right China had periods of great power
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Was already being industrialized during the Republic period. Like I said, similar to how Japan modernized in the Meiji Restoration, China was heading in the same direction, only they had less of a headstart since the Republic started around 1912 iirc, while the Meiji was late 1800s (again, off the top of my head and on my phone).
Most Sino historians agree that Mao set China back considerably. Only the increasingly Capitalist policies following his death brought China back to where it was.
The "periods of great power" all coincide with Mercantilist policies and free trade. Saying that Mao/Communism put China ahead is very ignorant of Chinese history.