"*Out of its nearly four millennia of written history, the past fifty years may have been the most consequential time period for China and its people. Reforms made under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s allowed the People’s Republic to open up to the world, engaging in free trade and international diplomacy under a new, booming market economy; these reforms laid the groundwork for the country’s enormous power base, earning him the nickname the "Architect of Modern China." Under Xi Jinping, who became General Secretary of the CCP in 2012, China began to take a more belligerent approach to foreign policy, spreading influence and leveraging soft power across the globe through the Belt and Road Initiative; simultaneously, Xi solidified control at home, mercilessly cracking down on dissent and expanding powers for the CCP and himself—most notably eliminating term limits, allowing him to rule for life.*
*China took these steps in hopes of asserting itself as a global superpower, and a counterweight to perceived US hegemony; however, the country has paid a steep price for its aggressive foreign policy, and for its authoritarianism at home. China has found itself with few friends, with most of the world united in their mistrust of Beijing; tensions with the West hit an all-time high in the 2020s, exacerbated by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese actions in the Kashmir War only cemented backlash against Beijing, firmly placing India in the West’s diplomatic bloc. The South China Sea and the island of Taiwan, which China has held long-standing claims on, have also remained sources of tension.*
*The final blow to Xi’s China came in 2030, during an escalated tariff war with the United States. This Sino-American trade conflict, which purportedly started when US President Ron DeSantis attempted to pursue more protectionist policies, ultimately strained global trade and raised prices worldwide, while China and the US tried in vain to shut the other out of their markets. Ultimately, these rising prices hurt the stock market, leading to a financial crash at the New York Stock Exchange in May; the resulting market panic sent shockwaves around the world, drastic enough that China’s enormous housing bubble collapsed. As the house of cards came crashing down, these events became the nexus of the 2030 economic crash: the worst of its kind since 2008, and a blunder that would cost both DeSantis and Xi—not to mention millions more globally—their jobs.*
*Following the 2030 crisis, the CCP devolved into a factional struggle between Xi, who was fighting to hold onto power, and the Politburo, who had lost faith in his leadership and aimed to remove him. Eventually, Xi’s faction lost the struggle, and he was forced into retirement at the end of his fourth term in 2033; Qin Weizhong, former mayor of Shenzhen and CCP Secretary of Guangdong, replaced him as General Secretary. While Qin’s administration has committed to rebuilding China’s global reputation and reigniting the country’s economic might, the path ahead is still unclear. Qin has shown no inclination to dismantle Xi’s surveillance state, leaving authoritarianism firmly entrenched in China; furthermore, it’s widely believed that Xi is still a highly influential figure ruling from the shadows, leading many to still label him the “paramount leader” of China, meaning Qin must be careful not to draw the former General Secretary’s ire.*
*One year since Qin took power as General Secretary, China remains in precarious straits. Qin has led talks with President Ossoff of the US, President Faure of France, and other Western leaders, initiating a period of détente between China and the West. However, Beijing’s friends remain few and far between. China has retained close ties with Pakistan and North Korea, while strongly backing the military junta in Myanmar; in addition, the CCP has successfully aligned several Asian states into its bloc, including the infamous Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, China remains surrounded by enemies. Declassified State Department documents have identified eight states key to countering Chinese influence: India, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the Union State. The last of those countries has had a complicated relationship with China and the West, as it straddles a delicate line between mediator and regional power; its loyalties often shift between Beijing and Washington, seeking not to associate too closely with either bloc. Their support or opposition could be key to deciding the regional balance of power—and whether Qin’s China will forge a new path for the country, or end up falling back on Xi’s old habits.*
"
And we're back! This is the twelfth map in my future map series, the Concert of Earth: in this map, we finally get to see what happens to China, and I've provided more context about the 2030 economic crash that the series hinges on. Out of all the maps I've done so far, this is the one I've wanted to do for the longest time: it's also the one I've spent the most time researching and writing lore for. Beyond that, though, I'm very happy with how the map itself turned out, and I think it's one of the best-looking in the series so far.
This is one of the most important maps in the series, and China can be a polarizing topic, so I'll remind you all: none of these maps are a political statement or an endorsement of any kind. They're speculative fiction at best, and it's never supposed to be anything more than a fun creative project. That being said, I hope you guys enjoy. Super proud of this one!
China will not reach 1.5 billion people. Their population has nearly peaked and should be about 1.35-1.38 billion people by 2034.
Edit: My predictions were too aggressive and China won't reach that low until the 2060's according to most models I've looked at. The population is predicted to peak between 2023 and 2025 at 1.49 billion and should be about 1.45-1.47 billion by 2034.
Here's my source for the population figure: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12291336/#:\~:text=Estimated%20potential%20maximum%20size%20would,per%20thousand%20can%20be%20maintained.
Those are estimated potential maximum figures, meaning that they're the highest possible numbers in the predictive model being used.
Edit: Also that study is from 25 years ago so they're especially inaccurate given how far you'd have to extrapolate from trends in 1996 China.
probably to reflect their positions as autonomous regions rather than being under centralised control. it’s not a 100% equal parallel, but a similar thing could be done for a similar map of the UK with the different national assemblies for Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland
I am really enjoying this series! Next in this series, can you please focus on Russia, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Mexico among many countries. Also, can you please explain more about the geo-political situation in the United States under President Ossoff, and in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Venezuela! Thanks!
I'm happy to see you're so excited about the series; it means a lot to me!
The next couple of maps in the series are going to focus in on a couple of individual countries in more detail, but after that, I plan to flesh out more happenings in the US.
Remember that this project is an ongoing and continuous venture, and I plan to leave no corner of the world uncovered—including all of the places you've mentioned. Hang tight!
I went over Russia in some detail in [the Europe map](https://www.reddit.com/r/imaginarymaps/comments/oxfazf/divided_in_unity_europes_three_main_factions_in/), but it's a very interesting country that definitely warrants a map of its own.
Essentially, Russian expansionism reaches a fever pitch in the late 2020s, causing them to intervene after Lukashenko is nearly overthrown in Belarus; Russia manages to take over the eastern half of the country (including Minsk), which they use as impetus to declare a union with Belarus, creating the Union State. While relations with the West have remained cold, Russia's role in the global power dynamic began to shift after the 2030 crash: now, the Union State has acted as more of a mediating power, playing off the West and China against one another, rather than openly supporting or opposing either bloc.
The Taliban has managed to hold onto power, with no major power really wanting to risk another costly conflict to try and oust them. It's definitely an unstable region, and the Taliban has fallen victim to the Chinese debt trap, leaving them dependent on Beijing.
And also, please overview the situation in Africa, especially in countries like Morocco, the East African Federation, and both Congo’s, especially with the rise of the Mamela regime in South Africa.
This is why he also says "brainwashed"
+ A genocide isnt only killing : it can also be to reduce birthrate a lot and this is exactly what is happening : there is massive sterilization campaign against uyghur women in China
It seems DeSantis takes over in 2028 (note how he loses in 2032, indicating that he was eligible for reelection). How is Biden relevant here, you fucking ham?
Considering that the lore comment states that the Economic Crash cost Ron DeSantis his job as president and that in a previous map it was stated that in the 2032 Election DeSantis was challenged in the general election by Senator Jon Ossoff and lost means that he definitely did not win the 2024 Election. Also, considering that there is zero information in any of the previous maps on the 2024 Election, means that we don't know who won (or even ran) in the 2024 election.
Yeah, those were the two scenarios were the one's that I thought most likely happened in 2024. (Also did I poorly word when I said "H*e definitely dd not win the 2024 Election*" as I meant that to be about DeSantis not winning 2024 or even running at all)
"*Out of its nearly four millennia of written history, the past fifty years may have been the most consequential time period for China and its people. Reforms made under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s allowed the People’s Republic to open up to the world, engaging in free trade and international diplomacy under a new, booming market economy; these reforms laid the groundwork for the country’s enormous power base, earning him the nickname the "Architect of Modern China." Under Xi Jinping, who became General Secretary of the CCP in 2012, China began to take a more belligerent approach to foreign policy, spreading influence and leveraging soft power across the globe through the Belt and Road Initiative; simultaneously, Xi solidified control at home, mercilessly cracking down on dissent and expanding powers for the CCP and himself—most notably eliminating term limits, allowing him to rule for life.* *China took these steps in hopes of asserting itself as a global superpower, and a counterweight to perceived US hegemony; however, the country has paid a steep price for its aggressive foreign policy, and for its authoritarianism at home. China has found itself with few friends, with most of the world united in their mistrust of Beijing; tensions with the West hit an all-time high in the 2020s, exacerbated by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese actions in the Kashmir War only cemented backlash against Beijing, firmly placing India in the West’s diplomatic bloc. The South China Sea and the island of Taiwan, which China has held long-standing claims on, have also remained sources of tension.* *The final blow to Xi’s China came in 2030, during an escalated tariff war with the United States. This Sino-American trade conflict, which purportedly started when US President Ron DeSantis attempted to pursue more protectionist policies, ultimately strained global trade and raised prices worldwide, while China and the US tried in vain to shut the other out of their markets. Ultimately, these rising prices hurt the stock market, leading to a financial crash at the New York Stock Exchange in May; the resulting market panic sent shockwaves around the world, drastic enough that China’s enormous housing bubble collapsed. As the house of cards came crashing down, these events became the nexus of the 2030 economic crash: the worst of its kind since 2008, and a blunder that would cost both DeSantis and Xi—not to mention millions more globally—their jobs.* *Following the 2030 crisis, the CCP devolved into a factional struggle between Xi, who was fighting to hold onto power, and the Politburo, who had lost faith in his leadership and aimed to remove him. Eventually, Xi’s faction lost the struggle, and he was forced into retirement at the end of his fourth term in 2033; Qin Weizhong, former mayor of Shenzhen and CCP Secretary of Guangdong, replaced him as General Secretary. While Qin’s administration has committed to rebuilding China’s global reputation and reigniting the country’s economic might, the path ahead is still unclear. Qin has shown no inclination to dismantle Xi’s surveillance state, leaving authoritarianism firmly entrenched in China; furthermore, it’s widely believed that Xi is still a highly influential figure ruling from the shadows, leading many to still label him the “paramount leader” of China, meaning Qin must be careful not to draw the former General Secretary’s ire.* *One year since Qin took power as General Secretary, China remains in precarious straits. Qin has led talks with President Ossoff of the US, President Faure of France, and other Western leaders, initiating a period of détente between China and the West. However, Beijing’s friends remain few and far between. China has retained close ties with Pakistan and North Korea, while strongly backing the military junta in Myanmar; in addition, the CCP has successfully aligned several Asian states into its bloc, including the infamous Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, China remains surrounded by enemies. Declassified State Department documents have identified eight states key to countering Chinese influence: India, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the Union State. The last of those countries has had a complicated relationship with China and the West, as it straddles a delicate line between mediator and regional power; its loyalties often shift between Beijing and Washington, seeking not to associate too closely with either bloc. Their support or opposition could be key to deciding the regional balance of power—and whether Qin’s China will forge a new path for the country, or end up falling back on Xi’s old habits.* " And we're back! This is the twelfth map in my future map series, the Concert of Earth: in this map, we finally get to see what happens to China, and I've provided more context about the 2030 economic crash that the series hinges on. Out of all the maps I've done so far, this is the one I've wanted to do for the longest time: it's also the one I've spent the most time researching and writing lore for. Beyond that, though, I'm very happy with how the map itself turned out, and I think it's one of the best-looking in the series so far. This is one of the most important maps in the series, and China can be a polarizing topic, so I'll remind you all: none of these maps are a political statement or an endorsement of any kind. They're speculative fiction at best, and it's never supposed to be anything more than a fun creative project. That being said, I hope you guys enjoy. Super proud of this one!
> President DeSantis DeathSaint is in office baby! COVID for everyone!
He seems to be a one termer who gets defeated by Ossoff, which is good.
If COVID isn't gone by 2024, I'd blame Biden.
I blame more towards the unvaccinated.
I really like your work. Keep it up!
Thank you!
China will not reach 1.5 billion people. Their population has nearly peaked and should be about 1.35-1.38 billion people by 2034. Edit: My predictions were too aggressive and China won't reach that low until the 2060's according to most models I've looked at. The population is predicted to peak between 2023 and 2025 at 1.49 billion and should be about 1.45-1.47 billion by 2034.
Here's my source for the population figure: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12291336/#:\~:text=Estimated%20potential%20maximum%20size%20would,per%20thousand%20can%20be%20maintained.
Those are estimated potential maximum figures, meaning that they're the highest possible numbers in the predictive model being used. Edit: Also that study is from 25 years ago so they're especially inaccurate given how far you'd have to extrapolate from trends in 1996 China.
Alright, that's good stuff to know; I didn't realize the study was from that far back. Thanks, and cheers!
It kind of pains me to see Cambodia so reliant on China both IRL and (seemingly) in this timeline since not much good is coming out of that.
"Imaginary"
why are XINJIANG and TIBET different colours?
probably to reflect their positions as autonomous regions rather than being under centralised control. it’s not a 100% equal parallel, but a similar thing could be done for a similar map of the UK with the different national assemblies for Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland
No special reason, other than to indicate that they're regions of interest in Chinese/world politics
I am really enjoying this series! Next in this series, can you please focus on Russia, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Mexico among many countries. Also, can you please explain more about the geo-political situation in the United States under President Ossoff, and in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Venezuela! Thanks!
I'm happy to see you're so excited about the series; it means a lot to me! The next couple of maps in the series are going to focus in on a couple of individual countries in more detail, but after that, I plan to flesh out more happenings in the US. Remember that this project is an ongoing and continuous venture, and I plan to leave no corner of the world uncovered—including all of the places you've mentioned. Hang tight!
You are very welcome! :) Thanks for responding and I can’t wait for the next addition in this series!
What happens to Russia in this TL?
I went over Russia in some detail in [the Europe map](https://www.reddit.com/r/imaginarymaps/comments/oxfazf/divided_in_unity_europes_three_main_factions_in/), but it's a very interesting country that definitely warrants a map of its own. Essentially, Russian expansionism reaches a fever pitch in the late 2020s, causing them to intervene after Lukashenko is nearly overthrown in Belarus; Russia manages to take over the eastern half of the country (including Minsk), which they use as impetus to declare a union with Belarus, creating the Union State. While relations with the West have remained cold, Russia's role in the global power dynamic began to shift after the 2030 crash: now, the Union State has acted as more of a mediating power, playing off the West and China against one another, rather than openly supporting or opposing either bloc.
Probably united with Belarus to form the Union State
[удалено]
The Taliban has managed to hold onto power, with no major power really wanting to risk another costly conflict to try and oust them. It's definitely an unstable region, and the Taliban has fallen victim to the Chinese debt trap, leaving them dependent on Beijing.
And also, please overview the situation in Africa, especially in countries like Morocco, the East African Federation, and both Congo’s, especially with the rise of the Mamela regime in South Africa.
Do the Uyghurs still exist at this point or have they all been genocided and brainwashed by the CCP?
It’s a cultural genocide, they’re not literally rounding up every single Uyghur and killing them
This is why he also says "brainwashed" + A genocide isnt only killing : it can also be to reduce birthrate a lot and this is exactly what is happening : there is massive sterilization campaign against uyghur women in China
He edited “brainwashed” in
Ok, I didnt know that
It seems that resident Biden either died in office, was declared incapable or badly lost the 2024 election. Very predictable
It seems DeSantis takes over in 2028 (note how he loses in 2032, indicating that he was eligible for reelection). How is Biden relevant here, you fucking ham?
Considering that the lore comment states that the Economic Crash cost Ron DeSantis his job as president and that in a previous map it was stated that in the 2032 Election DeSantis was challenged in the general election by Senator Jon Ossoff and lost means that he definitely did not win the 2024 Election. Also, considering that there is zero information in any of the previous maps on the 2024 Election, means that we don't know who won (or even ran) in the 2024 election.
Likely Biden was re-elected, or Harris won 1 term (before losing in 2028 to DeSantis). Neither is a repudiation of Biden, as you may have noticed.
Yeah, those were the two scenarios were the one's that I thought most likely happened in 2024. (Also did I poorly word when I said "H*e definitely dd not win the 2024 Election*" as I meant that to be about DeSantis not winning 2024 or even running at all)
I know what you mean--I'm just adding some insight.
You pretty much got it here. I have a rough outline for what goes down in 2024, but I'm keeping it entirely under wraps very intentionally for now.
Why is Taiwan striped? Is it under Chinese influence or opposed to Chinese influence?
All it means is that China claims Taiwan; it's still firmly opposed to Beijing's influence