China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a sovereign state in East Asia representing one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations and a major global power defined by its vast territory, diverse population, and dynamic socio-economic transformation. Background Covering approximately 9.6 million square kilometers, China occupies a strategic position between Central Asia and the Pacific Ocean, sharing land borders with fourteen nations and maritime boundaries with several others. Its geography encompasses extreme topographical variation, from the Tibetan Plateau and Gobi Deser...