Chinese Century

People's Republic of China

The Chinese Century (simplified Chinese: 中国世纪; traditional Chinese: 中國世紀; pinyin: Zhōngguó Shìjì) is a neologism referring to the possibility that the 21st century will be dominated by the People's Republic of China, similarly to how the 20th century is often called the American Century, and the 19th century the British Century.^[1] It is used particularly in the assertion that the economy of China will return to the status it held from around 1000AD-1700AD (or 221BC-1830AD depending on source) ^{[2] [3][4][5][6][7]} and overtake the economy of the United States as the largest national economy in the world.^[8][9][10]

Geoffrey Murphay's China: The Next Superpower argues that while the potential for China is high, this is fairly perceived only by looking at the risks and obstacles China faces in managing its population and resources. The political situation in China may become too fragile to survive into superpower status according to Susan Shirk in China: Fragile Superpower.^[11] Other factors that could constrain China's ability to become a superpower in the future include: limited supplies of energy and raw materials, questions over its innovation capability, inequality and corruption, and risks to social stability and the environment. Minxin Pei does not believe that China is a superpower or that it will be one anytime soon arguing that it faces daunting political and economic challenges.^[12] Amy Chua states that whether a country has enough pull to bring immigrants is an important quality for a superpower. She also writes that China lacks the pull to bring scientists, thinkers, and innovators from other countries as immigrants. However, she believes that China has made up for this with its own diaspora, saying that size and resources for them are unparalleled.^[13] Nevertheless, the 'rise of China' has been named the top news story of the 21st century by the Global Language Monitor, as measured by number of appearances in the global print and electronic media, on the Internet and blogosphere, and in Social Media. ^[14]

See also

• Potential superpowers
• China's peaceful rise
• Chinese economic reform
• Pax Sinica
• Sinosphere
• Asian Century

References

1. ^ Rees-Mogg, William (3 January 2005). "This is the Chinese century". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/william_rees_mogg/article407883.ece. Retrieved 12 September 2009. 
2. ^ Chinese economic performance in the long run By Angus Maddison, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Development Centre, 2007, p. 379, table A.4.
3. ^ http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED460052&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED460052
4. ^ Professor M.D. Nalapat. Ensuring China's "Peaceful Rise". Accessed January 30, 2008.
5. ^ Dahlman, Carl J; Aubert, Jean-Eric. China and the Knowledge Economy: Seizing the 21st Century. WBI Development Studies. World Bank Publications. Accessed January 30, 2008.
6. ^ The Real Great Leap Forward. The Economist. Sept 30, 2004
7. ^ Chris Patten. Financial Times. Comment & Analysis: Why Europe is getting China so wrong. Accessed January 30, 2008.
8. ^ "China set to be largest economy". BBC News. 2006-05-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4998020.stm. 
9. ^ Elliott, Michael (2007-01-22). "The Chinese Century". TIME Magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1576831,00.html. 
10. ^ Fishman, Ted C. (4 July 2004). "The Chinese Century". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/04/magazine/04CHINA.html?ex=1246680000&en=127e32464ca6faf3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt. Retrieved 12 September 2009. ^{[dead link]}
11. ^ Shirk, S (2008) China:Fragile Superpower, "Oxford University Press, USA ISBN 9780195373196
12. ^ http://apac2020.the-diplomat.com/feature/china%E2%80%99s-not-a-superpower/
13. ^ Chua, A (2007) Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance -- and why They Fall, "Random House" ISBN 9780385512848
14. ^ The Rise of China Ranked in the First Place of 21st Century News

External links

• Fengbo Zhang: Speech at “Future China Global Forum 2010”: China Rising with the Reform and Open Policy
• The Chinese Century: The Rising Chinese Economy and Its Impact on the Global Economy, the Balance of Power, and Your Job
• China's Century: The Awakening of the Next Economic Powerhouse
• When China Rules the World: The Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World