china viewed as super power

• Theme 1: For - economic power

  • since market reforms of deng xiaoping in 1978, in 2015 - IMF raned china as number one economic super power - china produced 17% of world GDP
  • china's economy overtaken US by purchasing power and due to overtake in absolute terms by 2030
  • annual growth rates for china have been 8-10% a year for almost 30 years - twice the level for western economies
  • europe dependent on china's economy, france and german economy
• Theme 1: Against

  • people republic of china's economic strength is far smaller and poorer than Us
  • china's average income (GDP) is $4,813 and Americas is $54,132 (2021)
  • tensions between free market economic system and the marxist communist political system
  • china's large population (1 billion) is the reason for it overtaking USA economy
• Theme 2: For - global influence

  • china has been strengthening its political and economic links with countries such as australia and those in central africa, parts of the middle east and latin america
  • china recently broke peace deal between saudi arabia and iran - in beijing
  • grown more assertive globally through its wolf-warrior diplomacy
  • openly challenges the US economic system
  • uses trade and economic might to silence critics or harm them if they question it e.g. australia over covid
• Theme 2: Against

  • china remains a poor country with living standards of only 1/5 of america's
  • china's relative poverty will act as a major constraint on china's capacity to appeal, it's soft power, for several decades
  • china does not behave in an 'imperial' way in africa and largely ignores the politics of the countries, working with any government
• Theme 3: For - military expansion

  • china has been a nuclear power since 1964 and has the second largest military behind the US
  • has the largest navy in the world
  • over 2.3 million in active service with additional 1.1 million as reserves
  • china converting its economic might into military might, sign of up coming superpower
• Theme 3: Against

  • china does not have same military capabilities
  • US accounts for 37% of global military spending and spends more than four times what china the world number two spender does
  • US dominates across land, sea, air and space
  • china has not fought in any recent wars and does not have the practical experience the US has
  • US has dozens of military bases in the region, including guam and within japan and south korea