SUPERPOWER COUNTRY? CHINA

SUPERPOWER COUNTRY? CHINA

1. What forms of power does China have?

   • Geographical
     • Almost 10 million square km
     • Third largest country after Russia and Canada
     • Bordered by India and Central Asia
     • Vast reserves of coal in the west
     • Huge Population of 1.3billion
       • Biggest population in the world
       • Fifth of world population
       • More than 3 times USA population
   • Economic
     • World's forth largest trading nation
     • GDP 13% of world's output (second to USA)
     • Fastest growing economy - grown 9.5%/year for 20 years
     • High growth rates, low labour costs, huge emerging market attracted world's highest levels of foreign investment
   • Military
     • Reputation as major military power
     • Possession of nuclear weapons (240)

2. Implications of China's power for other nations

   • USA
     • Use rising economic and political power to undermine USA in Asia
     • Could overtake USA as largest trade economy in a few years and could be largest economy in a few decades
     • Inexpensive Chinese imports increased purchasing power of people in USA - currency fixing so Chinese products favored?
   • ASIA
     • Want to secure periphery in Asia - restricting other countries' development
     • In South Korea, Southeast Asia etc manufacturers view a rising China as a threat. Lower cost and more effective production in China

3. Regional or International superpower?

   • Regional
     • No Global Brands
     • Still areas of low development
     • Unsustainable growth due to ageing population, environmental concerns, culture that doesn't encourage risk/creativity
       • Economic reform cannot continue without political reform?
   • International
     • Gaining influence with USAs closest allies (during financial crisis gave billions in contracts to GB and France)
     • 2010, surpassed US to become biggest trading partner of Japan and Brazil
     • $100bn/year trade with Middle East and Africa
     • Becoming world's largest producer of solar and wind energy - now exporting to Us - being used for 360000acre wind farm in Texas
     • Starting to exert political power more responsibly - taken leading role in G20 helping push for active response to world financial crisis

4. Is China causing a decline in other countries' superpower status?

   • By 2030, Asia will have surpassed North America and Europe combined in terms of GDP, population, military spending and technological investment
   • Economic power will grow faster than US's
   • Will enhance superiority over Japan, Russia, and India
   • Greater political integration could turn EU into a state entity by 2015, so China and EU could have the same semi-superpower status at that time