China case studies

Question 1

China economy rating

Answer 1

• 2nd largest GDP following USA
• Growth rates around 5% (much faster than US/EU)
• Links to global shift/open door policy/ SEZs e.g. Shenzen
• 1.6 million patents- most applications in the world

Question 2

China military spend

Answer 2

• 2nd highest military spend overall after USA- hard power capability
• Increased every year for past 24 years

Question 3

One belt one road policy;
1. What is the policy?
2. Why does it benefit China?

Answer 3

1. Land and sea route to support resource pathways and decrease resource transport costs, estimated cost $4-8 billion due for completion in 2049
   Overland silk road- strengthens ties between China and Asia
   Maritime silk road- sea routes and infrastructure around Indian ocean
   Polar silk road- North sea route through arctic ocean and Europe
2. Reduces Chinas reliance on the Strait on Malacca (choke point) and expands their markets to sell to (linked to increased access and lower costs/prices), increasing economic base of POP

Question 4

CPEC;
1. What is CPEC?
2. Who does it create tensions between and why?

Answer 4

1. China Pakistan economic corridor
   Collection of infrastructure projects starting in 2013 worth $62 billion in 2020
   3,000km of rail and pipeline
   $33 billion of energy infrastructure e.g. pipeline transporting LNG from Iran
2. Regional tensions with India who are ally of USA has been bypassed for scheme which has seen increase in FDI in Pakistan (meet take off stage) creating 2-3 million jobs in Pakistan (US have increased support for India and decrease support for Pakistan as a result)
   Dependency theory; 20% of CPEC is debt based finance, repayments are 6% of Pakistan’s GDP

Question 4

China in Africa;
1. Why is China investing into Africa?
2. With reference to Angola what are the specific investments and benefits of this?
3. What are some of the negatives?

Answer 4

1. Ageing population by 2060 1/3 Citizens 65+
   China no longer low cost labour e.g. ability to outsource to Kenya
   Increased middle class in China 400-800 million by 2030- needs agricultural exports to help meet demand
   Increased political support due to more positive relationship (soft power/sphere of influence) within UN
   Need for resources e.g. relies on oil from African nations e.g. Angola, Nigeria and Sudan and minerals e.g. copper from Zambia
2. Angola; Benguela railway 25,000 jobs during construction, 5000 locals trained as technicians line will carry 16 million tonnes of freight per year
3. Illegal deforestation- Mozambique
   Oil spills linked to Chinese funded wells reported in Chad, Sudan, Angola
   Extraction of Coltan in DRC- forest loss and river pollution

Question 5

South China Sea;
1. What is China doing in the South China sea?
2. Name a specific island
3. Why are they doing this?
4. How does this create tensions?

Answer 5

1. Building up coral reefs/islands, some to allow military bases to be set up
2. Spratley islands
3. Gain EEZ (200 miles) rights to gas increase/oil/fish to build economic pillar of power
4. Overlapping claims with Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam
   USA increasing presence in area e.g. joint military drill’s with Philippines- recently held largest ever joint military exercise 18,000 troops ‘Balikatan’
   AUKUS deal to create 8 nuclear powered submarines, China response ‘ fuels arms race, hurts peace and stability’

Question 6

Taiwan
1. Why is there potential conflict with China?

Answer 6

1. China claims Taiwan under its One China policy/ 9 dash line policy
   - But Taiwan has ruler ‘autonomously’ since 1949. If Taiwan declares independence there will be a conflict between China and Taiwan, the current agreement is that China will not enforce their policies on Taiwan unless they try to claim independence
   - China is trying to increase influence in the South China sea, China threat to have 1,200 missiles pointed at Taiwan
   - Increasing potential for conflict October 2021, Chinas president “complete reunification of our country must be and will be realized”, - - China sent over 150 war planes into Taiwan’s air defense zone in the week leading to 11th October 2021
   - Small scale example of significance/monitoring from China yet shows extent of conflict- January 2022; Beijing fines 7-eleven $8,000 for calling Taiwan a country and not recognizing Chinese names for disputed islands in the South China sea

Question 6

Chinas role in New Development bank

Answer 6

• set up by BRICS for BRICS to fund infrastructure policy (modernisation/takeoff)- rival to world bank/IMF (larger voting shares by the ‘West’)

Question 7

Why does China have influence on the UNSC?

Answer 7

Permanent member- veto power