China an Emerging Superpower

The People’s of Republic of China (PRC) is often considered an emerging superpower due to its large and stable population, its rapidly growing economy and military spending and capabilities. However, it has several economic, political and demographic problems which need to be overcome to be considered as a superpower. It is also not yet as influential on the international stage when compared to the United States or former Soviet Union.

Factors in Favor

Geographic Factors

Territorial size – The People’s Republic of China covers a total area of 9,596 square km which is the third largest in world after Russia and Canada. China’s total land area is the second largest in the world after Russia.

Natural resources – China’s land possesses vast wealth of valuable natural resources such as coal, oil, and minerals. In view of PRC’s extensive river network and mountainous terrain, there is ample potential for the production of hydroelectric power. In fact, China has the largest hydroelectric potential in the world. For instance, the Three gorges Dam that spans the Yangtze River (the third longest river in the world), will provide China with a large amount of hydroelectricity, twice as much as the second largest dam in the world.

Demographic Factors

Population size – China’s population is the world’s largest, with about 1.3 billion citizens. With the global human population currently estimated at about 6.5 billion, China is home to approximately 20%. Because of the One-Child policy the PRC is able to control the population in mainland China, although this may eventually have a detrimental effect on mainland China’s demographics.

Military Factors

Military- The 2.25 million-strong People’s Liberation Army makes it the largest military in the world, in terms of sheer number of troops (3.5 million if the people’s Armed Police is included). However, the PRC is not part of any multinational military alliance such as the NATO (whose total size of armed forces number, 4,086,900 in 1990), would have dwarfed that of the PRC. In spite of these numbers, the PLA is behind advanced Western militaries in many areas. Recognizing this fact, the PRC is undergoing a massive effort to improve and modernize its military technology, equipment, and power projection capabilities – all fuelled by rapidly growing defense budget.

International Trade and Political Influences

China and the United Nations-As one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto power, the PRC has increasing influence in the world politics.

International influence -The PRC is gradually increasing its influence in areas which are traditionally dominated by the influence of Western countries. This is in part due to the PRC’s non-ideological approach to foreign affairs and offer of no-strings-attached assistance, which thus presents an alternative for seeking foreign and potential allies. Its ties with these countries have been closer driven by strengthening economic bond through trade and strategic investment, and to much lesser extent, military cooperation.

Economic Factors

          China’s GDP-has grown at a rate of at least 9% per year for more than 25 years (although recently the government has sought to slow this growth slightly to prevent a clash), one of the fastest growth rates for a major economy in recorded history. In 2005, China became the fourth largest economy in world in terms of market exchange value and the second largest when measured by purchasing power parity, with a GDP (PPP) of US$8.8 trillion in 2006. It is expected that China will pass Japan in GDP by 2017, US around 2020. In the same period of time, it has moved 300-400 million people out of poverty and raised the average Chinese person’s income by 8 times.

          Trade- China’s international trade grew at an annual rate of 29.5% in the last years. China’s export share is 7.35% and import share is 6.3% in world trade. China is currently only a major manufacturing export economy.  The PRC government also put great efforts to push for exporting medical supplies and software. China’s foreign exchange reserves has become largest in world

Technology- Studies show that china is progressing rapidly in science and technology research as the PRC government spent billions of dollars in fields such as biotechnology and information technology. It is spending more than 2.0% of its GDP. According to experts China might produce more engineering PhDs than the USA in 2016. Many foreign companies have set up R&D centers in China due to official government support and to tap lower-cost Chinese talents.