The United States has long been considered as the superpower, but have recent developments allowed China to surpass the U.S.?
A superpower has dominant position in international affairs, able to influence other nations due to its military, financial, political, and cultural strength. The term was first applied to the U.S. and Russia after World War II. When the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1990, the U.S. became the superpower. However, given its recent financial setbacks, costly war against terrorism, new political landscape, has another nation surpassed the strength of the United States?
An annual report ranking countries is released to determine the superpowers of the world. For 2019, twenty-five were named as the top of the list. At first, it seems like China is the strongest contender for the coveted no. 1 position. With a population over 1.4 billion, China has steadily increased its military, financial, and political strength. In fact, despite its trade war with the U.S., China’s economy has surpassed its expected growth rate in the first quarter of this year. According to an article publish on East Daily News, “Industrial production, fixed-asset investment, retail sales, and the urban jobless rate showed improved performance from previous months, with the latter two coming in stronger than expected.”
Militarily, China is a powerful friend or foe. With over 2 million personnel, China is still the largest standing army in the world. Military service is compulsory in China, but it has never been strictly enforced due to the large number of volunteers willing to serve in the military. In recent news, China uses this size advantage to bully its neighboring countries over disputes regarding the South China Seas. What China lacks in military equipment—they are considered twenty years behind the U.S.—they more than make up in manpower and political will under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who is intent on claiming the disputed seas.
Still the question is, did China unseat the U.S. as the no. 1 superpower?
Reports say the U.S. is still the undefeated champion. China’s GDP per capita, estimated to be $16,800 by the end of this quarter, is a far cry from the that of the U.S., which is $53,500. While China has the biggest army in the world, the U.S. has the most superior in terms of equipment and technology. According to Times.com, the U.S. accounts for 37 percent of military spending around world. The political influence of the U.S. in international affairs continue to be steadfast. The U.S. has allies that are powerful. At the same time, the U.S. inspires loyalty from countries it has continued to support in different forms over the many decades.
Figures and reports aside, people all over the world still look up to the U.S. Politics may downplay this influence, but the truth cannot be denied—the world’s oldest functioning democracy is still the force to reckon with.
