Who is China from Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member and what is their importance?

China is the girl who becomes Kody's steady girlfriend while he is still a young teenager. Kody later becomes involved with another girl but fears that relationship as requiring more dedication than he can give and returns to China. China herself is involved in the gang and is often used for all sorts of gang activity. China and Kody eventually drift apart and Kody notes that they seem to have nothing left in common after his four-year absence, time spent in jail.