9.2.3
Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
China - Economic, Political and Military
China - Economic, Political and Military
China's economic, military and political strengths and weaknesses could help it to become a global superpower or could inhibit its progress.
Economic characteristics
Economic characteristics
- Between 2012 and 2017, China’s economic growth lifted 68.53 million people out of poverty. That’s a drop in poverty rate from 10.2% to 3.4% in 5 years.
- China has the 2nd-largest economy in the world, but the USA accounted for 22.4% of global GDP in 2015 (vs China's 13.4%).
- China's population of over 1.4 billion people, means that its GDP is spread over lots more people than the USA. Its GDP per capita is only 10% of the USA's GDP per capita.
- Inequality in China has also increased in recent years. In 2012, it seemed to be 0.474, but some economists have argued it's higher and the data provided by the government is unreliable.
Political characteristics
Political characteristics
- China was a Communist country ruled by Chairman Mao from the 1930s.
- It has moved away from its historically communist ideology but is still run by an authoritarian, one-party government. They have more capitalist and competitive markets now.
- Following the open-door policy of 1978 the country has become more globalized and has allowed more global TNCs into the country. But state-supported companies and industries still have lots of power.
Military characteristics
Military characteristics
- In the 2018 Global Fire Power review, China was ranked 3rd behind the USA and Russia.
- China has the world’s largest army when looking at soldiers however its military does not have global reach.
- According to the Global Fire Power review, China has a total of 3,035 aircraft compared to 13,363 for the USA.
- Its navy is still relatively weak with only 1 aircraft carrier currently. The USA has 20.
- A blue water navy describes a navy with global reach.
- In the early 21st century China has concentrated on growing its navy to become a ‘blue water navy’. Some people think it can now claim that title.
China - Cultural, Demographic and Environmental
China - Cultural, Demographic and Environmental
China's cultural, demographic and environmental characteristics may help it to surpass the USA's economic strength.
Cultural characteristics
Cultural characteristics
- China doesn't have many global consumer brands.
- ‘Western’ culture is largely American and China has limited elements of its culture that it exports to other countries.
- The only exception would be the popularity of Chinese food in Western countries.
- It remains to be seen whether or not this will change if China’s government relaxes the censorship of their population.
Demographic characteristics
Demographic characteristics
- China’s huge population (1.4 billion) has been a key factor in its rise to superpower status.
- With such a large population, it has been able to offer global TNCs low wage costs and hence become the ‘workshop of the world’.
- Its population is ageing rapidly without a growing younger population to support them.
- The fertility rate in China is now 1.57 births per woman- significantly below replacement level.
- How it will deal with the impacts of its ageing population will determine its superpower status.
Environmental characteristics
Environmental characteristics
- China is the world’s largest CO2 emitter.
- China signed up to the Paris agreement in 2015 but their carbon emissions rose by 4% in the first half of 2018.
- Within China, severe pollution problems have been a major issue for the country in recent years.
- China still burns a lot of coal that is a dirty non-renewable energy source.
- The pollution was so severe in 2016 that schools were forced to have their PE lessons inside rather than exposing children to the fumes.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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