China: A superpower on the rise or overrated??

Adil Mahmood

Erasmus Mundus Master Journalism and Media within Globalisation

Course: Globalisation and World Order

Date: Friday, October 25, 2013

China: A superpower on the rise or

overrated??

In the first decade of the 21st Century, China has risen to

become a very important international power. China’s rapidly

growing economy has become a key driver of international

economic growth, especially as the global economic recession

at the end of the first decade diminished growth in the

European Union, the United States, and Japan. The country, the

sole representative of Asia in the UN Security Council,

participates actively in new international groupings, notably the

G-20, that gives much greater emphasis to the interests and

needs of large developing countries than did previous leading

international economic groupings like the G-7 or G-8. Bearing in

mind both the domestic and international interests of the

country and maintaining the continuity and consistency of its

major diplomatic policies, it has promoted innovations in

diplomatic theory and practice by keeping up with the trend of

the times and pushing ahead with a pioneering spirit.

These are all positive notes. But, experts and commentators

still argue whether China’s influence is overestimated, and

whether they are able to rise in peace?

In the debate whether China’s influence over the world is

significant or not I believe Beckley’s article has some very

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Adil Mahmood




strong arguments. He said China cannot be compared to the

US, the lone superpower of our time, since it’s still a developing

country (It was a developed country way back in the history).

Economic theory teaches us that developing countries like

China grow in a faster way than the already developed

countries. Beckley forecasts that the China’s outstanding

growth will slow down as soon as the country will become a

fully developed country.

Beckley also said China is more focused on its own territory,

since it’s still developing, rather than the US, which is equally

focused on its dominion over the world. Regarding

technological power, he said US still remain superior there

since the country on the other side of the Atlantic is the most

desirable place to work and live and thus it can attract and

retain a significant number of experts and specialists, who are

able to make greater technological advancement than China is

doing currently.

For the next debate whether China can rise in peace, Beckley

said it is not believed that the country is interested challenging

the US up front, it rather seems interested in seeking territorial

ns. And Beckley believes China certainly will not raise arms

against the US since the latter is the primary importer of

Chinese product. Beckley says Chinese leaders would not make

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such mistake considering the impact it might cause on its

national economy.

Beckley points that since China has the largest amount of US

Dollar and treasury bond reserves outside the US, so it can both

serve as an instrument of peace and force. On one side, it can

serve as an instrument of peace because in order to keep that

reserve, China has to keep the US dollar strong in the market.

On the other hand, if China and the US lock up in a conflict,

China would be able to flush the world markets with Dollars

which will significantly decreasing its value, even might destroy

the currency.

After careful analysis, I echo with Beckley’s notions that China’s

influence is overestimated in order to challenge the world

society since it still struggling with basic problems like poverty.

And China is in no position to be engaged in warfare with the

US since it established a strong economic relationship with it,

which is only benefitting it on a larger scale.

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China: A superpower on the rise or overrated??

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