Superpower China China = Superpower?

During the last four decades, the economic reform and the policy of candidness has made China successful, prosperous and flourishing. Deng Xiaoping's policies of gradual and uncomplicated economic reforms are the main reasons why China has succeeded so rapidly. Moreover, the smooth conversion to a varied economy and the transfer of development tactic from closed-door to openness also catalyzed the whole revolutionary process in the country. However, this swift development of China has been convoyed by a number of complex social, political and ecological problems. Increasing discrimination, perseverance of poverty, dreadful conditions of the environment, bribery, and dilapidated standards of time-honored Chinese ethical and societal standards are the key challenges that China has to deal with in order to grow further. In simple words, China can only have a bright future if it manages to solve these problems (Yao, 2007).

If seen from a pessimistic point-of-view, China would not be able to handle the mentioned constraints and become a real superpower because of the persistent polarization, corruption and fiscal crises. However, if an optimistic approach is taken then it becomes obvious that China has enough potential to preserve its soaring economic growth, diminish unfairness, inequity and poverty in the society, develop and improve the ecological environment, and triumph over the budding problems of energy and material scarcity. In case China achieves these goals, it will outdo Japan by 2017 and the United States by 2037 (Yao, 2007).

Lately, China revealed its Innovation Strategy for the next decade. It has undisclosed its ambitious plans "of moving away from being a low cost manufacturing hub to becoming a leader in strategically important areas such...

Japan was overtaken by China as the 2nd largest economy of the world in 2010. This makes it liable to replace United States of America as the world's largest economy in the next few decades. Presently, the largest foreign currency reserves in the world are possessed by China. In addition, the Asian giant also has a grasp on an astonishing $1.6 trillion worth of American government bonds and debt. The economic strengths of China are likely to get more impetus in the future. They are also strong enough that the country can be labeled as the next superpower in the making. However, the question is whether absolute economic strength is the key factor for a country to make it to the rank of a superpower (Arora, 2011)?
The term "superpower" is usually defined as the union of military, financial, political and cultural power, supremacy and domination. Even though these four features are basically entwined, they are also disconnected in nature. A superpower is a country with the capability to influence events on an international level. Although China has developed its economy to high-ceilinged levels, it still has a lot to do. The per capita income in China is about 6 to 8 times less than that in Japan and United States of America. Also, there is a great disparity in urban-rural income which increase gaps between the poor and rich and ultimately gives rise to a large number of disturbances in the country (Arora, 2011).

However, it is a great sign that Chinese leadership recognizes the amplifying discriminations as a crucial issue. China could eventually emerge as a true superpower if it takes appropriate steps to engage its people living in the rural areas and to reduce wealth inequalities within the country. On the…