China's capitalism v Japan's socialism

On paper, China may be one of the last havens of Communism and Japan may be the model of capitalism but on the ground, reality looks very different

Spend a week in China these days and it's hard not to come to a striking conclusion: This isn't communism. Sure, the world's most populous nation withstood the decline of communism that swept Eastern Europe more than a decade ago, and the place is dotted with the drab architecture and the ubiquitous police presence that are the hallmark of communist life. What's equally clear is that this isn't Soviet-style communism. The breadlines you see in China are for spending it ' on everything from Louis Vuitton bags to Prada shoes to the latest electronic toys. Walk the streets of S...