China

History
In 2032 a devastating earthquake stuck Asia; its epicentre was in China, close to Beijing. The Chinese Premier and virtually the entire governing establishment was killed when Beijing is effectively levelled to the ground. A new, inexperienced and typically xenophobic regime panicked. Fearing of losing control of the country they closed its borders and refused outside help. China slowly rebuilt on its own, returning to the worse excesses of the oppressive Maoist period, and becoming highly isolationist.

This state persisted until November 2057, when there was a massive breakout at the Chinese superprison. Many of the metas held there were political prisoners (or at least were imprisoned for refusing to join the army), and under the leadership of the charismatic Shénlóng (sometimes rendered Divine Dragon) began a civil war against the government that imprisoned them. As it became clear that the rebels were powerful enough to win popular support swung to their side, and by the summer of 2058 Beijing was besieged. In November 2058 the remaining Chinese leaders fled to Kroskev and on the 17th Shénlóng declared himself Emperor of China, to popular acclaim. He immediately announced his intent to make drastic social and economic reforms and to reopen the borders. Despite misgivings about an imperial government and the "Dragon Emperor", the all the governments of the world except Kroskev officially recognised the new regime within a year.

Current Situation
Shénlóng is making good on his promises: China is in rapid transition to a regulated free market economy, and it international relations are strengthening. Moreover, the government has taken large steps toward removing corrupt officials from office and installing capable replacements, in accordance with the meritocractic ideals of the emperor.

Ironically, it is these ideals which are the greatest cause of concern interationally. Because metas often have abilities far beyond those of normals, they are often elevated to positions of high rank, or at least of high pay, in the new society, and there are fears this will create a meta overclass, which most of the world fears would set a bad precedent. On the other hand, it can't be denied that the metas are working for their status, and the economic reconstruction of the country is proceeding much faster for having metas well integrated into the socio-economic structure. Meta crime is low in China, perhaps because metas can earn a good living through legitimate means. And even the emperor earns his keep: his weather-control powers resulted in a record harvest in 2059.