Is China a Global Power?

The basic premises of much of the realist-inspired literature that predicts an inevitable conflict between the United State and China is based on assessments of relative power capabilities. This chapter argues that China’s comprehensive power remains a very long way behind that of the United States, when it is measured in terms of both capabilities and influence. As a result, the prospects of a global clash between these two powers appears remote. However, the power gap is much narrower in the regional Asia-Pacific context—and hence the possibility of a Sino-American conflict erupting there (and possibly becoming global)—is not insignificant.