The Rise of China: Implications for Global Power Dynamics

China’s remarkable rise as a world power has generated much interest and debate among academics, policymakers, and international observers. The rise of China, the world’s second-largest economy and growing military power, will have far-reaching implications for global power relations. Join us in this article to talk more about China’s rise and its impact on the world.

China’s economic transformation recently has truly been mesmerizing. Through an amalgamation of market-oriented reforms large-scale infrastructure investment, emphasis on export-oriented manufacturing, etc, China has achieved rapid economic growth, has raised millions above the poverty line, and become the engine of global trade.

Since China’s economy began to reform in 1978, its GDP growth has averaged to be about over 9% annually, and more than 800 million people have lifted themselves out of poverty. China, an upper-middle-income nation has seen its economy rise quickly owing to exports, low-cost manufacturing, and investment. 

However, imbalances in the economy, society, and environment have emerged from this. China will need to shift the structure of its economy from manufacturing to high-value services, from investment to consumption, and from high to low levels of carbon intensity in order to address this. The issue is discovering new growth-promoting factors while addressing the social and environmental consequences of its prior development trajectory. Because the institutional development speed is outpaced by China's rapid economic expansion, there are significant institutional and reform gaps that must be filled.

To offer a fair and stable business climate, reform the regulatory system, and ensure equitable access to public services, the state's role must change. With a third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and 27% of annual global carbon dioxide emissions, China's expanding economy is a key factor in regional and worldwide development challenges. 

For exporters of manufactured goods, China's economic rebalancing may open up new opportunities; yet, over the medium term, demand for commodities may decline. The transition to a new economic model, increasing aging, the creation of a cost-effective healthcare system, and the promotion of a lower-carbon energy path are just a few of the complex development problems facing China's economy.

Nevertheless, the country’s extensive economic influence has made it a prominent player in international economic affairs. China’s rise is also extensively challenging traditional power relations and geopolitical situations.  Growing economic power has allowed China to expand its influence through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to improve connectivity and trade in Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

“China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most ambitious infrastructure plan in world history. Connecting Guangzhou to Venice by sea and Beijing to Brussels by land, this massive undertaking already involves 68 countries (including 24 in Europe) that comprise two-thirds of the global population. The BRI is a multi-pronged plan that reimagines global supply chains, technological connectivity, and military strategy.” - from an article from Bertelsmann Foundation.

Military modernization has also been affected by such significant growth. Defense spending has increased, the military has been strengthened, advancements in technology have taken place, as well as enforcement in naval presence. Experts have raised questions about China’s intentions and its potential impact on regional stability, especially in disputed water in the South China Sea.

Concerns about human rights issues, such as restrictions on freedom of expression and religious persecution, are receiving international attention and scrutiny. In addition, China's assertive stance on territorial disputes, trade practices, and intellectual property rights has strained relations with other powers, increasing trade frictions and diplomatic tensions.

Some of the cases include:

"In 2021, the Chinese government promoted more conservative values ​​and hence restricted the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and women. The Chinese government is becoming less tolerant of criticism from private entrepreneurs. In July, courts sentenced a supporter of human rights activists, Wang Sun Dawu, an agricultural tycoon, to 18 years in prison for vague charges after handing outspoken real estate person Wang Ren Zhiqiang a similarly harsh sentence.

Mr. Xi Jinping's latest promises to fight inequality and create "shared prosperity" ring hollow as the government stifles grassroots voices. Following the self-immolation of a van driver in January, the government tightened regulations to protect gig workers but also cracked down on their activities. The rapidly growing inequality in China has led some young people to advocate a form of passive resistance known as "tang ping" which has resulted in phasing out consumption and declining labor quality. The concept was condemned and censored by the government.

Authorities have subverted human rights and civil liberties protections in Hong Kong and reconverted many of the peaceful acts that characterized Hong Kong life, such as news publishing, as acts of subversion. A Human Rights Watch April 2021 report found that authorities committed crimes against humanity, including mass arrests, torture, and cultural persecution, in widespread and systematic attacks against Xinjiang Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims. It turned out that Tibetans continue to face severe abuses, including severe and lengthy prison sentences, for exercising their fundamental rights.

The Chinese government's human rights track record and "wolf-warrior" diplomacy have led to an increasingly negative public perception of the Chinese government in some countries abroad. A new study by AidData found that developing countries owe $385 billion in "hidden debt" to Chinese authorities. Some foreign governments took more concrete measures to press the Chinese government to improve its rights record, at home and abroad, but those remained inadequate to effectively challenge the scope and scale of Beijing’s abuses." - picked from an article from https://www.hrw.org/

China's involvement in institutions such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and World Health Organization reflects China's evolving role as a global stakeholder. But differences in perspectives on issues such as human rights, cybersecurity, and intellectual property rights raise questions about the extent to which China upholds or seeks to transform existing norms and principles. China’s economic growth, military modernization, and aggressive foreign policy have transformed regional and global power relations. As China's influence grows, it has become crucial for the international community to engage in dialogue, cooperation, and constructive competition to address common challenges and ensure a stable and peaceful world order.

For further information and research, we recommend referencing reputable sources such as professional journals, think-tank reports, and publications of well-known international organizations. Also, note that this article does not intend to target any government or entity. It is just an article published for knowledge purposes.

Information curated from articles from https://www.hrw.org/, https://givingcompass.org/, https://www.worldbank.org/, & https://www.bfna.org/