China’s Emergence as a Superpower

“The 19th century belonged to the British. The 20th century belonged to the United States. But the 21st century belongs to China,”

-- Jim Rogers, Hedge fund manager

China’s population is one of the greatest natural resources on the planet. Its citizens are becoming more educated, diligent, aspiring and comprise nearly a quarter of the world’s population. The combination of China’s massive size and rapid modernization is creating the framework for an emerging superpower.

China’s growing economy is not only gaining international prestige, but its confidence has soared as it continues to be the world’s fastest growing economy for the past three decades. “China’s rise as a manufacturing base is going to have the same kind of impact on the world that the industrialization of the U.S. had, perhaps even bigger,” stated Andy Xie, a Hong-Kong based economist with Morgan Stanley.

It is particularly important to note both the causes and the impact of the emergence of China as a superpower. Although, in order for the impact to be assessed, the underlying causes must be analyzed first. Thus, the purpose of this argument is to critically examine the causes of China’s emergence as a superpower. In doing so, a retrospective analysis of China’s history will be conducted so that the appropriate transitions underlying the causes of China’s growth can be analyzed.

Most importantly, it should be understood why it is important to learn and become educated about the causes of China’s emergence as a superpower. The growth and emergence of China as a superpower has many implications/consequences that can be beneficial or detrimental depending on how the situation is approached. Furthermore, it is important to maximize any opportunities that may emerge from China’s growth. However at the same token, if not handled or understood appropriately, challenges