Introduction

Abstract

Both Taiwan and China are extremely populous nations in terms of population per square kilometer of land, and both, due to population pressures and continuing high growth levels, have experienced challenges to sustainable development. In this book, we examine China and Taiwan from a sustainable development perspective, in terms of inequality and environmental issues. On the whole, Taiwan’s equality and its environmental statuses are much more favorable than that of China, as a result of its pattern of growth and its stage of growth respectively. China’s equality situation is an outgrowth of its pattern of development and it is stark, particularly between the rural and urban regions, which has resulted from its urban, coastal-biased pattern of development. Implementation of social services in rural areas is essential, as is creating sustainable growth in rural regions. China’s environmental situation is dire and requires accelerated attention.