China

• the emergence of China is a potential rival to the USA's haegemony
• Although it has the world's largest army, China has little global military reach. However it does have military strengths.
• For military, China has a $216.4 billion budget. 2 aircraft carriers, 9 nuclear submarines, 60 non-nuclear, 260 nulcear weapons, 2571 combat aircraft.
• in the last 30 years, China has been joining more international organisations, both large and small.
• they are involved in international coorperation to respond to climate change.
• Unlike the USA, China rarely gets involved in global crises such as natural disasters and military or political crisises.
• China has an authoritarian, one party government
• China is the worlds largest carbon dioxide emitter 286% + from 1990-2013

  produce 53% of global emissions, howver have commited to reduction since 2016.
• China has begun to have a larger social reach, in particular through conifucius institutes ( schools studying the Chinese language around the world) there are 100 in USA alone.

  this has extended China's soft power.
• Unlike the USA, which dominates, China has a few global brands. It also has negligible impacts on global entertainment - 'western' culture is largely American.
• In 1993, China's GDP was 445 billion dollars.

  in 2018, China's GDP was 12.2 trillion dollars.

  currently is 17.96 trillion dollars.
• In 2009, only 2% of China's adult population had graduated from uni (age 25-30.)
• China is limting its skills in design and research. Its industries copy rather than innovate due to lack of further education.
• China is a major player in global investment. Its state-run companies and banks all invest heavily overseas. However, it also has massive levels of debt.
• neo-colonialism is a form of indirect control over developing countries.
• The Belt & Road Initiative aims to connect Asia with Europe via railways, roads, ports and pipelines. This will increase trade between these regions.
• Chinese businesses are investing in Africa, particularly in mining and agriculture. They are buying up land and exploiting natural resources. This means that African people lose their jobs and become poorer.
• BRI is the largest infrastructure project ever attempted by any country. It involves $1 trillion worth of investments across 60+ countries.
• BRI is an example of neo-colonialism as it gives china more influence over other nations. The Chinese government can use this initiative to gain access to resources that they need but don't have themselves.
• BRI is criticised as many projects are not economically viable or environmentally sustainable. Many countries have been forced into taking out loans they cannot afford.
• there are suggestions China is involved in debt-trap diplomacy.