A Reasonable Perspective on China

In this article from the Globalist, Jianxiong Zhang argues that far from being a rising threat or an emerging global problem, China is a positive factor in the world economy. For example the economic boost that China gives to the world economy may become especially important in the event of a US recession, as the Chinese economy can help pick up the slack and keep the world economic growth rate in the positive. Consequently, he believes, Western countries should recognize the significant pressures and constraints weighing on Chinese leaders. With so much of American media’s focus on China as the next great power and American job losses, it is easy to forget that on an individual level China is still a poor country. While its GDP now ranks 4th, behind the US, Japan, and Germany; per capita its GDP is only 4.5% of America’s.

This means that there are still millions of poor people in China, including 135 million who live on under $1 per day.

While China’s rise does present significant international challenges, especially in the environmental realm, articles like this one by Mr. Zhang are a welcome respite from the China-hype and China-bashing one often hears these days. At the very least, it is a reminder of the immense internal pressures within China, pressures that urgently push for more and more economic growth. Balancing these pressures with environmental and international concerns is no simple job.