It's too early to talk about a 'Chinese century'
- By Yan Xuetong
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 29, 2015
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A mixed story [By Zhai Haijun/China.org.cn] |
Britain and the United States successively dominated the world in the 19th and 20th centuries. These two centuries hence were labeled as the "British Century" and the "American Century." The proposition of the 21st century being the "Chinese century" could only come true if there is a unipolar world structure with China dominating absolutely. Currently, there's no sign of either these two conditions coming about in the remaining 85 years of this century. It is therefore too early to talk about a "Chinese century."
The United States will not necessarily lose its superpower status when China becomes a modern socialist country by the time the country marks the hundred year anniversary of its foundation in 2049.
The world pattern is determined by the balance of power and relations between big powers. In analyzing the composition of China's comprehensive national strength, its economy has a global influence, its political and cultural influences are mainly within the Western Pacific region, and its military strength is the weakest.
The United States improves its military capability through the practice of war, while China improves its military capability through drills. It will be far more difficult for China to catch up with the United States in its strength than economically.
From the perspectives of "hard" and "soft" power, China relies on its economy to exert influence on other countries. China's soft power lags far behind the United States. It is also weaker than Germany. Germany has a leading position in European affairs. Its economic influence is evident.
From the perspective of strategic relations between major powers, China's situation is slightly better than Russia and Japan, but not as good as the United States, Britain, France and Germany. Russia is at strategic confrontation with the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. Japan is in confrontation with China and Russia. Though China is in confrontation with Japan and the United States, its relations with Germany and France are better than Japan's relations with these two countries.
Though the United States is in strategic conflict with China and Russia, its strategic relationships with other countries are better than those of China. The United States is allied with Britain, France, Germany and Japan. China adheres to the principle of non-alignment. It has partnerships with the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Russia. The United States has 60 allies, which don't include China. China has partnerships with 58 countries, the United States included.
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