China is a world power, no doubt about it. Consider the definition of world power in Webster’s dictionary:
a political unit (as a nation or state) powerful enough to affect the entire world by its influence or actions.
In order to limit the discussion, I will focus on the economy.
China has become the 4
th largest, after US,
Japan and
Germany.
She has experienced a two digit growth rate for the past 30 years.
Per the Economist “For the first time China is now contributing more to global GDP growth (measured at market exchange rates) than the United States is” (How fit is the panda, Sept. 27
th 2007).
Interesting to note, even the
US recession will have little effect on
China.
This is good news since a global recession would be catastrophic.
Since
China’s net exports are about 25% of its growth, the
US recession would have little effect on
China.
Now let’s take
China’s actions.
Since most of the world is capitalist, human rights issues are placed on the backburner when it comes to importing cheap goods from
China.
China will continue to behave inhumanly with the knowledge that there will be no consequence from the international arena.
In 1993, under the Clinton Administration, Bill Clinton himself thought he could attach a human rights condition order to trade negotiations with
China.
Although the conditions were minimal,
China still failed to meet them and instead made more political arrests.
In 1994 the human rights condition clause was taken out of Chinese commerce agreements in order for the
US to continue our trade relationship with
China.
Since the reforms,
China has changed from a sleeping giant to an international world power.
China has had the resources all along, and the open door policy helped flourish her growth.
The world is paying close attention to
China, and that is another true sign of a world power.
2 comments:
Hi, Jeanette,
I think you're right that there's no question that China is an economic powerhouse. But do you think that if the economy sputters, it will continue to be a world power? It seems that money - or at least trade - defines power in the way that military might used to during the Cold War.
China has nuclear weapons and the PLA is modernizing, so soon it will be a force equal to that of any major power. However, it the economy falters, pushing the country into seething social unrest, will China still be a world power? It seems the only countries the U.S. takes seriously are the ones with economic clout.
Economically, China has absolute carved out a niche in the world market. But "world power" feels to ambitious at this point. Sure, China ranks #4 economically. But it takes more than economics to claim world power status. China has too many internal conflicts that they're going to have to address head-on. Internally, China is too fragile. How China handles their internal issues will determine how they are viewed by the rest of the world. If they can't manage their internal affairs, China will never be more than a world supplier. But not a world power. Power hinges on respect. When we read about human trafficking, pollution, lacking health care, high unemployment, low wages, water shortages, lack of security for the elderly, food shortages, lack of benefits for the unemployed, tensions with Taiwan, threats to use nuclear force over Taiwan, and grotesque corruption that goes unchecked, it is impossible to look at the leaders in China with respect. So much for saving face. They look like fools. Not leaders.
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