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
Erasmus Mundus Master Journalism and Media within Globalisation
Course: Globalisation and World Order
Date: Friday, October 25, 2013
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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Adil Mahmood
Erasmus Mundus Master Journalism and Media within Globalisation
Course: Globalisation and World Order
Date: Friday, October 25, 2013
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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