China will rule the world, and not just in Olympic sports. I recently read "When China Rules the World" by Martin Jacques.
They will be an economic superpower (along with America and India) by around 2020. And with great financial clout comes sporting success.
Still, I can't really see them winning the World Cup any time soon.

they already are an economic superpower though myhammers. they have the 2nd biggest economy in the world. we all already know this

"China will rule the world"

They already do, by virtue of being the consumptive Wests' banker.

I'm not sure they're an economic superpower right now. But by 2020 they will be significantly more than what they are now and will replace America (which can only be a good thing!).

and will replace America (which can only be a good thing!).
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Im not sure. America's foreign policy disgusts me at time, and I hate their arrogance as well. Saying that though, the british negotiated hard at the end of ww2 to ensure that power was transfered to america rather than to the east.

Everyone knows that america's global dominance is on the decline, but for all its wrong doings, as a european I would be more worried of the chinese than i am of america.

America's dominance wont have dissapeared by 2020 anyway, that's only 8 years away.

When you look at most of the world's major problems/ conflicts e.g. terrorism, America is usually the source. They have abused their position of dominance.
It's time for a change, and I can't see China being any worse.

"I'm not sure they're an economic superpower right now"

They are the production line and the banker of the consumptive West.

They down tools, nothing gets built for the West to consume.
They call in the debts, the West goes bankrupt.

I suggest you revisit your definition of the term "economic superpower" .

Until a year or so ago, China were behind Japan and in 3rd spot. I doubt they have become a superpower between then and now.

They have a powerful economy which is hugely influential, but that's not the same as being a superpower.

<quote>

Superpower :

an extremely powerful nation, especially one capable of influencing international events and the acts and policies of less powerful nations

</quote>

The ability to down tools and strangle nation consumption, call in debts and make the USA bankrupt, is what I call an economic superpower.

And then add their interesting resource acquisition strategy in places like Africa.

You appear to confuse being A superpower with being THE superpower.

So Japan is a superpower? I wouldn't say so. And China have owned American debt for a while back, yet I wouldn't say they were a superpower way back then.

By 2020, they will not be so reliant on foreign markets for their goods. Their burgeoning middle class will be the size of Europe.

Their resource acquisition in Africa is at an early stage. Once that fully kicks in, then they will start to reap the benefits.

So Japan is a superpower?
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Japan dont have major business operations in just about every country in the world.

Japan arent a major influence on just about every government in the world.

Japan dont determine global demand for natural resources, energy and other products.

But Japan's economy was bigger than China's until a year or two ago.

"So Japan is a superpower?"

Japan WAS an economic superpower.
They are on a slow wane now (have been so since their economic turmoil in the mid 90s) .


"yet I wouldn't say they were a superpower way back then"

Then is not NOW. They are a superpower now.

Superpower status doesn't just refer to your investments in other countries. China used their vast resources to do that, whilst Japan etc invested domestically.

"Superpower status doesn't just refer to your investments in other countries."

You have been given a dictionary def of superpower.
China match that definition comfortably.

Please feel free to provide your own definition of the term "superpower" , if you disagree with the one given.

RBDB: You were equating superpower status with owning US debt. But China have owned US debt for a long time but were never considered a superpower in those days.

japan are an exporter, china are an importer.

china's demand massively exceeds japan's, as does their influence abroad. china invests billions of dollars annually in developing new markets in other continents which have the potential to supply raw materials to it.

chinese construction and engineering companies and businesses are operating in a major way in almost every country in the world. japan's corporate international influence is miniscule compared to china.

business and government around the world are queing up to deal with china.

the yen is one of the world's most important currencies and will overtake the dollar as the world's benchmar, at some point as it overtook the pound.

The criteria for such a broad, abstract term as 'superpower' cannot simply be understood from a dictionary definition.

No, mys I am not. YOU ARE.

I am telling you :

1. How China has an immense economic production base

2. That China has immense financial capital reserves.
Reserves that have effectively been funding the consumption of the West now.

3. Their resource acquisition policy is already affecting the workings of entire continents like Africa.

4. Their CURRENCY, the RMB, is rapidly approaching the point of being a reference currency in the world.


These are the traits of an ... ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER.

They have applied to the USA. To Japan. And now to China.

Again, if you disagree with any of the above, please feel free to provide your definition of the term "superpower" .

JPD: The Chinese yuan/renminbi is not even an international trading currency, so how can they be a superpower?
What you point out is indicative of China soon becoming a superpower i.e. in the same way America was at it's peak.

And just to pre-empt further silliness, do you wish us to throw MILITARY into the "superpower" mix ??

already made those points.

he aint listening

"he aint listening"

He refuses to concede point.
WHATEVER basically-understood measure, past and present, is being used to define a superpower, China matches the criteria.

China IS a superpower. TODAY.
Whether it becomes THE superpower, time will tell.

How can an economy that was 3rd only a few years ago now be classed as a superpower in the same mould as the US?
You two are looking at how China spends its money, as opposed to how much money it has.
Qatar invests heavily abroad, but they ain't a superpower.

So now you're saying China may be a military superpower? Really?