Is China a Threat to the U.S.?

Is China a Threat to the U.S.?

With more than two billion residents, the world’s most spoken language and a booming economy, China is undoubtedly a rising global superpower. Suddenly America is faced with the prospect of a country whose financial and military power could soon rival its own, prompting many to wonder if China is a friend or foe. Is China really a red flag for the U.S.?

Next question in Politics

  • “Shared ...”
  • No Objections Yet

Foreign Policy Association

China's Growing Domestic Concerns

Foreign Policy Association

Since opening its doors to trade with the international community, China has experienced fast growth, but not without cost.  China 's priority shortlist of economic growth and maintaining territorial integrity has since expanded to address a new and predominant concern: domestic stability and balance.

Former State Department DAS of American relations with China Susan Shirk writes that its leaders have become fixated on social stability, and maintenance of its regime. Fears over mass national protest movements and loss of military support could mean loss of livelihood for China's government officials.

China's government is working steadfastly to address the rising concerns of its people. The uncontrolled, disparity of wealth between major metropolitan cities and sprawling rural areas still plagues the majority of its population. Its education system has become a large indicator of unequal wealth, as parents pay fees to send their children to provincial high schools, but enrollment in wealthier provinces far outnumbers that in poorer ones. As China's population ages, there will be less children to shoulder the retirement of their parents - a traditional Chinese practice.

Beijing struggles to offer its own public the same quality products and services that it works so hard to produce, assemble, and export. At the same time, it is in dire need of finding a strategy that will foster higher personal incomes for its people, without further taxing its resources.

Evidence

IcotextText
China: Fragile Superpower
How China's Internal Politics Could Derail its Peaceful Rise
Post a Comment

Next Argument Previous Next

Is China a Threat to the U.S.?

Loading
  • Yes
  • No
  • Too Soon to Tell
Vote
View Results

Ask Your Friends to Vote

Spotlight

Loading
  • Gordon Chang
    Gordon G. Chang is the author of Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World, released by Random House in January 2006. Showdown focuses on nuclear... More

Subscribe to Opposing News

Biweekly updates on new debates and experts

Loading
Thank you for signing up

Please check your email to confirm your subscription.