China in World Politics

A set of vocabulary terms covering China's economic, military, and diplomatic influence in contemporary global politics based on lecture notes.

People's Liberation Army (PLA)

China's military, which is the world's largest by personnel and has modernized to project power far beyond its borders.

$$19.6\,\text{trillion}$$

The value of China's GDP, which is the second largest in the world behind the United States.

Deng Xiaping

The leader whose reforms in $1978$ opened China to foreign investment.

Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

The policy that brought decades of double-digit growth and lifted over $200\,\text{million}$ people out of poverty.

Factory of the world

A reference to China's manufacturing capabilities in steel and other raw materials.

Australia

The country that China punished economically with heavy tariffs on wine and beef after it called for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19 in $2020$.

$$275\,\text{billion}$$

China's military budget as of $2016$, the second largest globally.

$$1000$$

The projected number of nuclear warheads China's military is expected to reach by the year $2030$.

P5

China's status as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, granting it veto power over major issues of peace and security.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

An alternative institution introduced by China to challenge Western-dominated institutions like the IMF and World Bank.

Sovereignty and non-interference

The international norms promoted by China regarding the internal affairs of states.

Belt & Road Initiative (BRI)

A massive infrastructure program launched by Xi Jinping in $2013$ involving over $140$ countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

Debt-trap diplomacy

An argument used by some to describe the BRI, where countries borrow large amounts from China and struggle to repay, deepening political and economic dependence.

Huawei, TikTok, and Alibaba

Chinese tech companies that have triggered concerns in the West regarding data security.