What would you consider to be a balanced source of information about China, John?

And when they ( China /India ) reach zero population growth they will endure the same sort of stagnant economy the west has seen, an example being Japan.

This,… whole notion of discouraging population growth is a paradox,… while on the one hand creating more resources for fewer people , it does create a stagnating economic effect. Which means, that there are less workers compared to retired consumers for example, and thus a decline in the amount of workers that can support those in retirement.

The Georgia Guidestones offers an interesting perspective, as does L A Marzulli on the subject of population control, – en masse.

#13 – Georgia Guide Stones – Episode 13
https://youtu.be/2e-Y6it3Ctc?list=PLqqDqQerux8mp96gRhSr59OSk9-iZXzo4&t=340

However , all of them were caused by the rod shaped bacterium, Yersinia pestis. And the marmot,- along with other rodent species were the vectors. Whether initially by flea parasites , or harboring the bacterium in their own bodies once they were bitten by fleas.

It is also interesting that old DNA from Y.pestis from the original 14th century plague victims have been studied, and it has been found to have mutated throughout the century’s,… yet it is still lethal today.

And there is no getting around that fact.

When you say one ‘was not as bad as the other’ ( the mode of using a vector ie; the rat flea ) what you are really saying is that its mode of spread and contagion was less efficient as the ‘coughed ‘ version- pneumonic plague. But it was still as lethal – taking most victims within 3-5 days. In the case of septicemic plague, death came even faster out of the three versions.

Just a matter of time now. NZ Government are dragging the chain on this. Seem to be putting Commerce before the health of our people.

Simonm it may pay to check out Chinafile,com as just another Western based source of unbalanced criticism of China as well as being a platform to anti China propaganda.

The expansion of territory and annexation of resources enjoyed by various “kingdoms” was often based on power over others afforded by technology often in the area of metals and weapons.

The expansive phase of human population has near ended and a shrinking population is not something we are well equipped to contemplate, but it will happen, prepared or not.

So looking back to what we have learned when populations were much smaller, less resource consumptive, less wasteful and less demanding on the environment, as a basis for wider solutions.

Many things we no doubt would like to retain, but resources and the energy required will mean many things just will not be sustained.

Its a new envelope of thinking as to how we reduce energy consumption, Non Renewable Natural Resource consumption and restore what we can of the environment, not just exploit it.

There are many deadly viruses humans have encountered and the main tool used to deal with them has been isolation of the groups or people affected.

In parts of Africa Ebola is picked up from the forest every now and then over centuries. Hospitals tend to increase the numbers of victims. The tradition way was to completely isolate the family or group from the contact of a wider village population.

You mention Marx who looks at economies and social structure.

I find Mahatma Ghandi has a wider wisdom worth trying to understand.
A resume looking at village life that is ecofriendly for ongoing sustainability and the control of technology so it doesn’t wreck long term social and environmental sustainability.
https://www.tinytechindia.com/mahatmagandhi

India does need a state run old age pension provision so families can reduce child numbers.

China recognised this many decades ago and its population is trending to peak in 3 to 5 years by design.

That is a prediction independent of impending global collapse.

http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/viral-alarm-when-fury-overcomes-fear

China is doing a good job so far but could close down travel even more.