The China of 2010 has collapsed under the weight of its own idiosyncrasies. Regional tensions, backed by military might, define the China of the next decade.

Environmental issues, such as growing deserts, have helped to accentuate the many economic issues that have been experienced during the previous years of the global recession. (As Western economies became more isolated and protectionist they had dramatically reduced the importing of Chinese goods.) Tensions between the various administrative districts within China have grown as a direct result, and the people have openly begun questioning their leadership...

On August 6th 2009, the Premier and two senior Congress members were assassinated in a car bombing. While the new leader proclaimed that it was the corruption of the Capitalist attitudes now invading their society that had caused the violence, it soon became apparent that the hard-line Communists were likely behind the murders.

As the new leadership ordered a total crackdown on the population and an elimination of all the economic reforms, several provinces and more importantly their district military leaders, decided the government in Beijing was not legitimate and refused to follow orders. The details of the next few months are sketchy, but what is known is that the Communists have retained control of the Beijing Province while more reform-oriented leadership is in place in the Shanghai and Guangzhou territories. Rather than cooling off, the tensions between the regions still appear to be increasing. Taiwan's public arrogance during this upheaval has further added fire to the situation, and it has become clear conflict between the regions is likely and that the power struggle has only just begun.