First thing is, rural areas look the same in all countries in
asia. I think it si unfair to compare contries in terms of rural
areas.
Secondly I do not know why the topic of India vs China is
locked, but I think singapore tyrannosaur do bring out a good point
on comparison between taiwan and china. I do a simple googling and
find out the following facts
1. Taiwan used to be under one party rule from 1950 to 1990. All
other political parties r actually banned. Tis is the period where
taiwan see the biggest increase in growth.
2. China is under military leadership (mao is more a soldier
than a politician) during tis period of time. Tis marks a great
decline in china due to the clueless management by mao tat lead the
country backward instead of forward
3. china does claim tat chiang shifts all the reserves of money
and gold of the country to taiwan before they flee mainland.
Given the fact tat chiang is the leader and he make a thorough plan
to flee to taiwan, it is believable. The only doubt is whether is
there such a reserves in the first place. If there is, then it is
certainly true chiang will move them to taiwan.
4. Mainland china faces the brunt of the civil war as well as
ww2. Taiwan is under japan rule tat time and is relatively
unscathered. Is also receives american help
It is indeed true tat taiwan is generally better off than china.
But again r they really fair comparison given tat taiwan is itself
under one party rule for 40 years and tat china is under mao for
tis period of time as well. Their starting point is also different
since taiwan is already more affluent just after WW2