China world power or not?

[Don Corleone]

-Large military? Check.
-Cultural identity and history? Big honking check.
-Diplomatic presence on world stage? Check
-Nuclear armed? Check.


Seriously, I can't believe this is even open for discussion. Right now, China is the only reason Iran hasn't lobbed a nuke at Israel. They're the only reason North Korea hasn't tried to retake the South. They had record keepers and bureacrats when most of Western Europe was still wearing furs and painting themselves blue. And we're asking if they're a world power?

I am curious to see how things hold up for China as they get to enjoy their first global recession, and how well domestic bliss will hold up there when the money flow into the country slows down. But honestly, what country DOESN'T have minority issues? It takes more than a few Wiegers (sp?) to disqualify one from global leadership.

[shlin28]

It's Uighurs, pronounced like Wee-gers though.

[KukriKhan]

Phew...I actually made a post in the backroom? *runs around screaming*

Welcome.

Now that you've walked through the looking glass, do you feel any different? :)

[shlin28]

Welcome.

Now that you've walked through the looking glass, do you feel any different? :)

I think I will back away very very very slowly...

[Louis VI the Fat]

Welcome Shlin!

Please stay! The Backroom is where it's at!
More fun, more evil, more depravity than mafia games.


I thought you were Japanese?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

"Superpower" was coined during the coldwar to describe a nation that was not only a World Power in the old Metternich-style dictionary, but that had a major nuclear arsenal and could lay waste to great swathes of the planet at once. Kukri is on track with his Cold War nomenclature, as usual.

By that narrow definition, China is not yet a superpower but Russia still is.

However, the term Superpower is coming to mean "pokes its nose in everybody's business on a global scale." By THAT definition, we're still the only Superpower, though China is rapidly heading in that direction and Putin is starting to bring Russia back to that level as well.

The old "World Powers" were Austria, England, France, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire. As the 20th rolled on, Austria and the Ottomans were torn to fragments, Germany acquired then lost that status, and England and France lost that status following WW2. Russia lost that status but regained it in WW2, while the USA sort of gained it then solidified the position during WW2.

The dawn of the 21st sees the USA as a World Power, probably China (if not, they will be soon as influence in Africa and the Pacific, economic strength, and ability to project military power increases), and possibly Russia (not there yet, but Putin is pushing for it and they do have lots of big bombs). One could even suggest that a United Europe would acquire the status of a World Power, though that has yet to move past an early formative stage.

[JR-]

i think "great power" is the term you are looking for. |:)

[Papewaio]

The old "World Powers" were Austria, England, France, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire. As the 20th rolled on, Austria and the Ottomans were torn to fragments, Germany acquired then lost that status, and England and France lost that status following WW2. Russia lost that status but regained it in WW2, while the USA sort of gained it then solidified the position during WW2.

I would say when they sent the White Fleet around a hundred years ago they were flexing (much like China in space now). They solidified there position by the end of WW1 when they were stating whom could come to the peace table and negotiate. Not that their statements had absolute power, just that they felt they could bully other nations away without consequences at that point.