How super is China: Can China build itself into a sustainable superpower?

The future of any country lies in the hands of its people. China's government and its policies do not seem to place a very high value on the people of China, and this stance could prove to be problematic in the future. For example, it seems plausible that, as they grow in numbers, the people of China's countryside stand a chance of organising themselves and revolting against the government. Without the labour provided by these people, China's ability to become a superpower would be severely limited.

Katarina Tomasevski, a United Nations special rapporteur on the right to education, visited China in September of this year. Tomasevski reported that China spends only two per cent of gross domestic product on education. (The United Nations recommends a minimum of six per cent.) She also reported that the government covers only 53 per cent of school funding while requiring parents to cover the rest. This is a much lower percentage of government funding than in almost all other countries with compulsory education policies. If China does not concern itself with educating its citizens, the country's reign at the helm will be ephemeral indeed.

The number of Chinese people with HIV has jumped 140 per cent over the past year. This represents one of the highest HIV growth rates in the world. In the Henan province of China, the HIV crisis started when government officials ordered the local medical centre to focus on blood collection to earn revenue. Those who donated blood were infected with HIV when their blood was mixed with HIV-positive blood and then re-introduced to their bodies. A government that exploits its people in this manner can not expect to sustain their support.

For better or worse, China will become a superpower because it will have the human capital and the natural resources to do so. The challenge for China's political and business leaders will be to ensure that the country implements the social structures and environmental protection measures necessary to create sustainable growth.

There are small signs that Chinese business is moving toward a more responsible, sustainable path. For example, the first green business competition recently took place at the end of the first annual New Ventures Investor Forum in Shanghai. The first Chinese producer of organic honey, a manufacturer of testing kits to detect genetically modified organisms (GMO), and an organic food company were declared winners. Little by little, Chinese companies are recognising the value in pursuing socially responsible, environmentally sustainable business.

Many countries are recognising the potential value in developing alliances with China. This is evidenced by the fact that New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark and President Hu Jintao of China just unveiled the first steps towards a bilateral free-trade deal between the two countries. Australia is also pursuing a bilateral agreement with China.

Ultimately, the interaction between China and Western countries is contributing to a dynamic economic system, a more open political system, and constructive membership in the international system. The interaction with and influence of Western countries might provide exactly the catalyst China needs in order to forge a sustainable path to becoming the next world superpower. If China succeeds with its bold market-oriented economic experiment, it has the potential to transform China, Asia, and the world as a whole.