Andy Wong/Associated PressChina is the planets most populous country and second largest by land mass. Its civilization is one of the worlds oldest, and it has maintained an advanced economy for two millennia. A single-party socialist state, China has been governed by the Communist Party since the establishment of the Peoples epublic of China in !"#" under $ao %edong, who would usher in both the Cultural evolution and the &reat 'eap (orward.China has become one of the globes fastest-growing post-industrial economies since reforms were put into place in !")* by +eng ,iaoping and his supporters, and its rapid industry growth since then has led to competition with the -nited .tates and /urope. Chinas e0panding economic and global influence and perceived authoritarianism have contributed to its image as a formidable world power and played into both regional clashes and accusations of censorship and civil rights violations.1eep up to date on brea2ing news in China and e0plore our e0tensive archive below.