I was on my way back to the office from a meeting when I heard part of a very interesting debate on the radio. The question up for debate was "How long will it take for China to overtake the USA as the most powerful nation on earth?" Any thoughts??

Its hard to tell with the way they're so secretive but unless something big happens I'd say 50 years. But by then maybe the EU might be more powerful as well. That could be good for Ireland

Nah, I don't think the communist would catch up with USA.

I beg to differ. China is expected to prosper as the internet and world wide web expand. They will benefit the most off of e-commerce and will eventually pass the US. Give Japan a little time too. -Pat

Althoguh their economy may have been growing rapidly since the 1980's, China is still a poor country. More than half of their population is living on the rural areas, farmers and that.

The Chinese economy is growing very quickly, almost 10% per year, and maybe that's too quick. My view is that by say 2050 China will be a financial super power with an economy greater than that of USA. But you have to remember that China has nearly 5 times the population of the USA so individual wealth will probably lag behind the US. However in political terms it will not have the influence that the USA has. It is still fairly inward looking, it does not have any imperialistic plans other than holding Tibet and maybe Taiwan. No-one wants to import the Chinese political system and I rather think the status quo will continue until the system peters out naturally in one or two generations time. It is also worth bearing in mind that as previous posters have pointed out about 800mill of the 1.3bill population live in the rural areas and are very poor by even Chinese urban standards.

The United states wouldent stand a chance against China.. The Chinesse People have a much more honorebel way of figthing. An american soldier would never make a kamakazi attack, or if an american have the chance of running, i think he will run. As far as i know the Chineese people are Communist. Thoese people are brainwashed an will do anything to win.. i dont mean to disrespect the U.s but this is just an opinion on the subject.... An by the way, the E.U would never help you guys.. We dont own you anything, its the other way around.

You think suicide bombing/fighting is honorable? You think American soldiers are cowards for wanting to stay alive?

China is loosely communist, there has never really been a true communist megapower. China has been around for 5000 years, they are doing something right (or wrong depending on your point of view and position) despite the CCP. They WILL be a force to be reckoned with, particularly in fields of science and technology (only a decade behind and gaining ground).

Can you explain that?

France helped America out in your war of independence and then all you hear is a load of abuse over Iraq. Germans too. They're the 2 biggest powers in the EU and can pretty much hold sway over the rest of us.

Define Power. Then perhaps we'll start getting better answers.

Mick

I'm not really sure what the question is. Are you talking about takin gover our country or just prospering over us economically? As far as taking us over, no way. I'd like to see them even try to get close to our shore.

Economically, sure maybe but considering their Communist State, what does it really matter? They don't reach out to the international community like we do. They don't have the political influence we do. What is power without respect? What exactly are they going to do with more power and how will it influence us?

Didn't China recently ask Cuba to allow them to have a base there? :p

Yes and besides the fact that we also have a base there, we have our largest Submarine base a few hours away. Thier only hope is to launch at us from 90 miles away, which if I was Castro, I would never allow b/c the retaliation is too great, but then again I'm definetly not Castro. Who knows whats going on in his mind.


On a side note, I hate that smilely sticking its tounge out. I can never tell if the poster is trying to be cute or trying to be an asshole. It gets me all sorts of annoyed.

Most powerful in what way?
I don't think you mean military strength.
manufacturing?
Consumer purchacing?
What did you mean?

China's economic growth is full speed ahead right now. And as this grows, its military and political prestige grows along with it. At the very least, China WILL challenge the US's position as the dominant power in Asia-Pacific. It will likely become another world super power and thus US will not be the only one.

There are lots of indicators that China is expanding its military power, influence (EU supports them), and doing everything to expand its economic power. To dismiss them is silly (as just because they are "communist").

China is hardly communist anymore, not in an economic sense. They're moving quickly towards a very open market, although you can't say the same about their government.

At any rate, China will certainly become a major power in world affairs, although in my opinion not as quickly as many seem to think. The economic growth they're achieving now can't be upheld in the long term, since much of this growth is only occuring in isolated areas, mostly the cities, while the rural areas remain relatively backwards. Their enormous population will be another problem to confront, and I suspect that eventually the ruling party will lose its grip on power as calls for democracy grow stronger.

and what about all the problems that come with this change and growth? I am sure it will not all be roses.

Where have you been, FS?

China currently is home to over 1 billion people, or 1/6 of the world's population. While people may not individually prosper as much as those in the US, China will eventually have a better economy. -Pat

Are you saying that China will have a better economy then the US will have or are you saying that China will have a better economy then it (China) has NOW?

China will never match the US. They have too huge a population to even begin to clean up the extreme poverty, they don't have anywhere near as varied and plentiful natural resources, they're decades behind on scientific and militaristic technological development, and guess what, the US isn't slowing down at all. Japan will never be anything like they were before WWII. They have a limited economy, although very successful; still, limited. They have no military as the US provides their defense. I don't see any Asian nations rising above the rest to actually compete with the US. China might overtake some western European nations, perhaps.

Great food though

Most powerful in what way?
I don't think you mean military strength.
manufacturing?
Consumer purchacing?
What did you mean? [/QUOTE]

Well the original question was posed by the radio programme but I take your point fs, it's a bit like when people say that the USA is the "greatest" nation on earth, what exactly does that mean??

Om manufacturing they certainly could outstrip USA in maybe 30-50 years time. On individual consumer purchasing, probably not, too big a population. Militarily, probably not. China is a nuclear power and has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. It has enough military strength to defend itself but for the moment the effort seems to be on developing the economy..

Are you saying that China will have a better economy then the US will have or are you saying that China will have a better economy then it (China) has NOW? [/b][/quote]It will have a better economy then the US will have.

Well, based on the number of people there are over there, and figuring that many have next to nothing or would fit into what we call our low wage earners over here. I would say that it would be dam hard to compare the two counties.

Sure they may demand and need the use of billions of tons of resources as their people start to want to bring themselves up to what Americans have had for many years already.

Of course that many people would have a massive consumption if they all called for goods, but will they? They haven't in the past, in fact many still live in a rather simple lifestyle with little of no special needs or for that matter a way of affording them.

One thing is for sure, that China or should we say the pacific rim is the area for all kinds of sales in the future. But look back and see how much we have moved forward in 50 years. I don't see us sitting around for the next fifty either.