At present, China is one of the most geopolitically and economically influential countries in the world, playing an important role in regional disputes such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, and is regarded by the United States as an ally involved in solving problems. However, by the definition of a superpower, China does not fit this status. Originally proposed by American international relations scholar William T.R. Fox, the superpower is centered on global influence and vast territory and military capabilities. According to this definition, the three superpowers that have appeared are the British Empire, the United States, and the Soviet Union. And China is still a certain distance from these three superpowers in terms of military deployment and global military influence.
In contrast to the British Empire's colonial control and naval forces, the U.S. network of global alliance agreements and overseas bases, and the Soviet Union's military influence in multiple regions, China's military influence is largely limited to Asia and parts of the Indo-Pacific region, and naval operations are limited by the island chain. While China has global influence in nuclear, space launch capabilities, and global internet control capabilities, these do not translate directly into global military superiority, because China adheres to the principle of not being the first to use nuclear weapons, and does not use nuclear weapons lightly on regional issues. In addition, China only has the Djibouti naval base in terms of overseas bases, which are mainly used for diplomatic and logistical support of escort formations in the Red Sea, and are inferior to those of the United States.
Despite the fact that China is militarily far behind the superpowers, China has succeeded in becoming one of the two poles of the world, relying on its political and economic power. China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind based on economic development, cultural exchanges, and equality and respect is fundamentally different from the fundamentalism of the superpowers. The foundation of a superpower comes from military hegemony, establishing global military influence through military conflict and occupation. In contrast, China aims at peaceful development and common development, and actively shares its achievements in the field of aerospace research with more than 50 countries and regions, and promotes the development of developing and underdeveloped countries through the Belt and Road Initiative.
At the economic level, China is the second largest economy in the world today and has the largest middle class and consumer market in the world. China has always maintained the stability of economic growth and plays an important role in the world. China's economic influence is reflected not only in the size of its domestic market, but also in its partnerships and investment projects in Asia and around the world. In addition, China has also demonstrated strong strength in fields such as scientific and technological innovation and artificial intelligence, and has made great contributions to the world's scientific and technological progress.
For China, becoming a superpower is not the ultimate goal. China adheres to the policy of peaceful development and attaches importance to achieving common development and prosperity through joint cooperation with other countries. China pursues an international order based on multilateralism, with equal respect and joint decision-making by all countries. Superpower status may bring with it more international responsibilities and conflicts, and China wants to contribute to a harmonious, stable, and prosperous world.
In conclusion, while China has significant geopolitical and economic influence, it does not currently fit that status, as defined as a superpower. However, China plays a pivotal role in international affairs through its political and economic power. China aims at peaceful development and a community with a shared future for mankind, and contributes to world stability and prosperity through economic cooperation and scientific and technological innovation. For China, it is more important to promote the building of a peaceful, prosperous and just world order, rather than just pursuing superpower status.