I squee

[Doktor Howl]

Looks like being a large farmer with a cargo ship would be a good future career.

Problem:  the mercury and arsenic in their farmed fish is astronomically high.

In any case, if their population doesn't go down drastically, they're in trouble...

Am I the only one who's optimistic this problem will sort itself out 

Well, if you live in SE Asia or Siberia, then it will work itself out on you.

[Jasper]

Specialman?

Really, China?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

The arable regions are sparsely populated, with terrible poverty and little medical care, largely due to local governmental corruption. China could really be the poster child of communistic failure. Much of their food is imported from other countries.

People living in "villages" (many of which put our largest cities to shame) are vastly better off than their agricultural counterparts, existing with the best in technology, decently-paying jobs, high-quality free education, and free medical care. That doesn't serve to balance the flipside of terrible working conditions many people have to exist with.

The most interesting thing about China, IMO, is not that it is a "third world country", because it is the original First World; it is that it is our future.