China's declared ambition is to become the world's superpower by 2025. It
can reach there much sooner. In many ways, it is already there. In terms of
development, India is a good 50 to 60 years behind, if not more. Here are
some of the lesser known nuggets of information on China that demonstrate
why China is already a formidable power.
China has a ten-year supply of oil and gas energy booked at the lowest
market point ($34 to $40 per bbl) of any nation. It is rapidly converting 10
percent of its energy sources to alternative forms much higher than the very
small 1 to 2 percent achieved by most of Western Europe thus far.
China's biggest mantra of success with the Middle East, Africa, and Central
Asia is its oil and gas diplomacy. China used to be an oil exporter, but
about a decade ago it turned into a net oil importer. This way, China sought
to kill many birds with one stone. For one, China made friends and
influenced people in these countries by buying their oil. Secondly, by doing
this, China started replicating the U.S. strategy of building its POL
reserves–definitely a superpower-ish behavior. The Chinese involvement with
Central Asia is best exemplified by its gas pipeline diplomacy.
China has very quickly and methodically interwoven its economy with
economies of as diverse regions as Africa (South Africa and Nigeria), Latin
America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador), Oceana (Australia and New
Zealand), Middle East (Iran), Central Asia (virtually every country in the
region) and ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines). This tactic
has proven to be a major factor for China to successfully absorb the shocks
of global recession that started in September 2008 and is still not over.
Needless to say that the Chinese juggernaut is moving at a breakneck speed
as it milks its more than ten producing gold mines and sets its sights on
five new and developing oil fields coming on stream by 2015-17.
China maintains a reasonably good balance between agriculture and industry.
China has the largest car market in the world and at the same time its
agricultural base is sound. China is not merely self sufficient in food
production but a net exporter of products like edible oil, rice and meat, to
name a few. The Chinese food security scenario is all set to be all the more
rosy with its recent free trade deal with ASEAN. Because of this free trade
agreement, the cost of living for southern and south western China is
expected to be pushed lower by as much as 19 percent as these regions of
China will have access to much cheaper vegetables, fruits and other food
articles through ASEAN imports.
China possesses a stockpile of rare earth metals for military and domestic
use that can easily last for the next two decades. The past few weeks have
demonstrated how China has flexed its rare earths muscle with Japan.
Though it is not verified, Beijing has claimed to have the world's largest
English-speaking population, pegged at some 390 million under-35 people who
can speak and understand basic English.
China's infrastructural forays are very well known. China is going to add a
huge network of 13,000 km of new high speed rail across the length and
breadth of the country in the next three years. This rapid connectivity will
not only facilitate its citizens and tourists to reach anywhere inside China
within eight hours by rail; this massive infrastructure is expected to
create as many as 12 million jobs.
In China everything is big. So is the case with its army that exceeds that
of the United States by at least 5:1. The 60th anniversary parade on October
1, 2009 showcased the teeth and diversity of the Chinese military might,
which demonstrated supersonic aircraft, drones, a wide array of missiles,
Special Forces, ground mobility vehicle and high-technology equipment.
China is acutely aware of the racial challenges to the majority Han people
and to the State itself. That is why since 2007-08, Beijing has started
catering to non-Han racial groups. Now as a matter of policy, China is
increasingly encouraging celebration of the multicultural diversity of all
56 ethnic groups. Their local festivals, languages, art, music and dance are
being promoted in an effort to knit all these ethnic groups together.
Importantly, China is paying close attention to the protection of heritage
and natural sites of non-Han ethnic groups (China has 17 World Heritage
Sites).
Space—the final frontier—is another area of deep focus for China. It is
significant that while America's NASA is gasping for funds, China has
loosened its purse strings, aggressively pursuing plans for its own space
station, deep space programme, and cutting edge space technologies. Besides,
China is leaving no area of importance untouched and pouring in massive
funds in such diverse sectors as nanotechnology, biotechnology,
transportation, agriculture, textiles, environmental science, and medicine.
The 242 exhibits at the recent Shanghai World Expo gave a sneak peak to the
world where China is headed in the near future.
The moral of the story is simple. China is here to stay. The 21st century is
projected to be the century of Asia. As of now, China is well poised to
justify it. The way China is proceeding it may well be China's Century.
By. Rajeev Sharma
Source: Diplomatic Courier
can reach there much sooner. In many ways, it is already there. In terms of
development, India is a good 50 to 60 years behind, if not more. Here are
some of the lesser known nuggets of information on China that demonstrate
why China is already a formidable power.
China has a ten-year supply of oil and gas energy booked at the lowest
market point ($34 to $40 per bbl) of any nation. It is rapidly converting 10
percent of its energy sources to alternative forms much higher than the very
small 1 to 2 percent achieved by most of Western Europe thus far.
China's biggest mantra of success with the Middle East, Africa, and Central
Asia is its oil and gas diplomacy. China used to be an oil exporter, but
about a decade ago it turned into a net oil importer. This way, China sought
to kill many birds with one stone. For one, China made friends and
influenced people in these countries by buying their oil. Secondly, by doing
this, China started replicating the U.S. strategy of building its POL
reserves–definitely a superpower-ish behavior. The Chinese involvement with
Central Asia is best exemplified by its gas pipeline diplomacy.
China has very quickly and methodically interwoven its economy with
economies of as diverse regions as Africa (South Africa and Nigeria), Latin
America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador), Oceana (Australia and New
Zealand), Middle East (Iran), Central Asia (virtually every country in the
region) and ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines). This tactic
has proven to be a major factor for China to successfully absorb the shocks
of global recession that started in September 2008 and is still not over.
Needless to say that the Chinese juggernaut is moving at a breakneck speed
as it milks its more than ten producing gold mines and sets its sights on
five new and developing oil fields coming on stream by 2015-17.
China maintains a reasonably good balance between agriculture and industry.
China has the largest car market in the world and at the same time its
agricultural base is sound. China is not merely self sufficient in food
production but a net exporter of products like edible oil, rice and meat, to
name a few. The Chinese food security scenario is all set to be all the more
rosy with its recent free trade deal with ASEAN. Because of this free trade
agreement, the cost of living for southern and south western China is
expected to be pushed lower by as much as 19 percent as these regions of
China will have access to much cheaper vegetables, fruits and other food
articles through ASEAN imports.
China possesses a stockpile of rare earth metals for military and domestic
use that can easily last for the next two decades. The past few weeks have
demonstrated how China has flexed its rare earths muscle with Japan.
Though it is not verified, Beijing has claimed to have the world's largest
English-speaking population, pegged at some 390 million under-35 people who
can speak and understand basic English.
China's infrastructural forays are very well known. China is going to add a
huge network of 13,000 km of new high speed rail across the length and
breadth of the country in the next three years. This rapid connectivity will
not only facilitate its citizens and tourists to reach anywhere inside China
within eight hours by rail; this massive infrastructure is expected to
create as many as 12 million jobs.
In China everything is big. So is the case with its army that exceeds that
of the United States by at least 5:1. The 60th anniversary parade on October
1, 2009 showcased the teeth and diversity of the Chinese military might,
which demonstrated supersonic aircraft, drones, a wide array of missiles,
Special Forces, ground mobility vehicle and high-technology equipment.
China is acutely aware of the racial challenges to the majority Han people
and to the State itself. That is why since 2007-08, Beijing has started
catering to non-Han racial groups. Now as a matter of policy, China is
increasingly encouraging celebration of the multicultural diversity of all
56 ethnic groups. Their local festivals, languages, art, music and dance are
being promoted in an effort to knit all these ethnic groups together.
Importantly, China is paying close attention to the protection of heritage
and natural sites of non-Han ethnic groups (China has 17 World Heritage
Sites).
Space—the final frontier—is another area of deep focus for China. It is
significant that while America's NASA is gasping for funds, China has
loosened its purse strings, aggressively pursuing plans for its own space
station, deep space programme, and cutting edge space technologies. Besides,
China is leaving no area of importance untouched and pouring in massive
funds in such diverse sectors as nanotechnology, biotechnology,
transportation, agriculture, textiles, environmental science, and medicine.
The 242 exhibits at the recent Shanghai World Expo gave a sneak peak to the
world where China is headed in the near future.
The moral of the story is simple. China is here to stay. The 21st century is
projected to be the century of Asia. As of now, China is well poised to
justify it. The way China is proceeding it may well be China's Century.
By. Rajeev Sharma
Source: Diplomatic Courier
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