As the world’s second largest economy and the most populous country, China looms large on the global stage. The nation’s growing influence is evidenced in its assertive foreign policies and expanding global role, as well as its capacity for large-scale infrastructure investments. China is emerging as a global power, assuming large roles in global economic and geopolitical issues. This article will explore how China is starting to act like a global power, highlighting key indicators of the country’s expanding influence and its implications for the international power landscape.
How China Is Increasing Its Global Presence
Gaining Economic Weight and Trade Relations
For decades, China has been the engine of global economic growth. According to the World Bank, China contributed 28 percent of global economic growth between 2010 and 2017. The nation’s meteoric rise as an economic power has shifted the global economic balance in its favor. China’s economy, measured in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms, has already overtaken the US, making it the world’s largest economy in 2016.
In the global trade arena, China is the world’s largest trading nation. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), it has become the world’s largest exporter, accounting for 13.5 percent of all merchandise exports. In 2018, it was also the leading importing country, accounting for 16.4 percent of all merchandise imports. This is further evidenced by the sheer number of trade agreements that China has signed in recent years.
Growing Military Might
In 2019, China’s military budget grew 5.1 percent, making it the second-largest military spender in the world after the United States, accounting for 13.5 percent of all spending globally. Between 1995 and 2019, China’s military spending increased by 8.4 times in real terms. China is rapidly modernizing its military with more advanced technology, including highly sophisticated weapon systems such as the DF-21D “carrier killer” ballistic missile. This has caused concern among some of its neighbors and underscores China’s growing ambitions in the region.
Increasing Soft Power
Soft power is the ability to shape the preferences of others through the power of attraction. Through an extensive public diplomacy campaign, China is trying to become a leading cultural and ideological power. In an effort to increase its soft power, the country has been promoting culture, sports, tourism, and entertainment.
The One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative is another example of China’s quest for soft power. Under this initiative, China has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects across the world. The initiative has sparked criticism but also praise as it is bringing economic benefits to the participating countries.
China and Global Politics
In recent years, China has become increasingly involved in global politics, usually acting in its own interests. However, China has not hesitated to put its diplomatic weight behind certain global issues, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and even the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, China has been more assertive in challenging the established international order. This is seen most glaringly in China’s territorial disputes with various nations in the South China Sea, as well as its attempt to expand its influence in East Asia. Furthermore, the country’s human rights records have become increasingly scrutinized in recent years, as has its “wolf warrior” diplomacy, which has caused a diplomatic crisis with other countries.
In recent years, China’s foreign policy has taken on a much more assertive tone, causing alarm among many countries which view the nation’s rise with suspicion or fear. At the same time, China has been looking to re-shape global politics, especially the rules and norms that govern international relations. Through organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, China is looking to build a parallel international order.
Becoming an International Aid Donor
China has become an increasingly prominent donor to regions and countries in need of assistance. This shift towards providing assistance to other countries is reflective of its growing economic and political power. In 2019, China pledged $14.3 billion in development aid to international organizations, four times more than the amount it pledged in 2008. China also became the number one source of official development assistance (ODA) to Latin America and Caribbean states in 2017.
China’s rise as a global power is proving to be a major gamechanger for international politics. Through its assertive foreign policies, military might, economic growth, and soft power initiatives, China is increasingly becoming a major player in the global arena. Its expanding global presence is having an important impact not only on the political balance of power, but also on global economic and security issues. It remains to be seen how China will use its growing power in the future.
