Analysis of Chinese Communist National Power

摘要

After many years of relative obscurity, China is now receiving much attention in the news media. As the United States and Russia achieve a more or less nuclear parity and a spirit of 'detente,' it has become only natural to view Red China as a more probable opponent. If this is the case, and China's conduct seems to endorse this point of view, it is incumbent upon the United States to be aware of China's power position in today's world. Since taking control in 1949, the Chinese Communists have undertaken a program to make China into a major world power. One of the Communist's objectives was the rapid industrialization of an essentially agrarian society. For about 10 years the Communist's achievements were remarkable and astounding. Then came the 'Great Leap Forward' and a dramatic reversal of their previous good fortune. It is apparent that even today China has not fully recovered from her economic woes. This analysis of the power position of Communist China includes an appraisal of her land, population, economy, armed forces, and political structure and leadership. The outcome of China's campaign to become a major world power will depend ultimately on her ability to solve economic problems of great magnitude. At the root of her economic troubles are her huge population and an inadequate agricultural sector. Although China is relatively vulnerable in the economic sector, she is not collapsing and may show modest improvement in the future. However, it will be many years before she has developed her industrial potential to the point where she can seriously challenge the United States and Russia. She may be a regional power who poses an imposing threat to Asia, but she is no global power yet.