Research topic: China
China is the world's most populated state and Chinese is the world's most widely-spoken mother tongue.
China's significance for the rest of the world is increasing extremely fast. Most of the goods we buy are now "Made in China:, and China has a central role in efforts to counter terrorism, nuclear warfare, environmental catastrophe and economic crises.
We have long been accustomed to eating Chinese food, but now we are also experiencing Chinese films, medicine, music, philosophy and shadow-boxing. China is on its way to winning back its historical position as the world's centre – the Middle Kingdom. There is enormous tension with regard to political developments in China.
China is also the world's oldest civilisation that is still in existence. Technologically, economically and culturally, China was for many centuries the world's most advanced nation. Chinese inventions include paper, gunpowder, the compass, chemical warfare, negative numbers, banknotes, porcelain, fireworks and toilet paper.
China's population mainly consists of Han Chinese (92 %), with the remainder made up of diverse minorities, including Koreans, Tibetans, Mongols, Tai, Zhuang, Uyghur and Hui Muslims.
China's territory also includes the former European colonies of Hong Kong and Macao. These still have their own governments, border controls and currencies. China also lays claim to Taiwan, which is mainly populated by ethnic Chinese and which formed part of China until 1895 and again during 1945-49.