Under the prevision of many analysts, the rebirth of China could allow it to regain its position as the world first power around 2050. This would mean that China would have recovored the position it has in the 19th century.
In fact, China is expected to dethrone the USA as the first economic power in the next decades. This would allow China to assert itself as the world leader in the middle of the century. If this materialise, it would be just in time for the century anniversary of the foundation of the Popular Republic of China.
This aspiration is the core concept of its current President, Xi Jinping. This concept has been announced on March 17, 2013, in its inaugural speech as President.
However, first announcement of this shift happened during the economic crisis of 2008. For the chinese leadership, this crisis indicated the failures of Anglo-Saxon capitalism. With the strong resistance of its own economic model, China has become to be relieved of any inferiority complex regarding Occident.
While in the name of multilateralism, China refuse the American hegemony, it’s also at the same time asserting its domination in Asia. Since 2017, China does not only satisfy of taking audacious initiative in the global governance, it wants to take the lead and let it be known.
The dramatic rise of China during those last decades is without historical precedent. It is estimated that before 2030, China would replace the USA as the world first economy. Its industrial, commercial and financial domination would then be without equal.
China has never forgets its world pre-eminence that was its own until the 19th century and it remains under the phantasmagorical power of a Middle World empire. The old term ‘Fuqiang’ (a rich and powerful country) summarise clearly the dream of the “Chinese nation rejuvenation”. This is inseparable of prosperity and military power.
The unprecedented rise of China is the origin of numerous questions, such as how best to prepare for the economic and geopolitical upheavals: what would be the best attitude to adopt regarding China to avoid both the risk of either fascination or demonisation.