Resolved: China is, or will have reached superpower status in the near future.

I don't find Wiki credible and Google isn't a source. The Google one needs a website. Thanks. 1) Military Power China's military is far far behind most of the major countries today. Far behind the U.S. , Russia, Britain, France and Canada. Their military is at least 20 years behind. [1] You also stated that they have "the most modern and advanced navies in the world" which could be considered true except for the fact it isn't. Their very first carrier used "a 20+ year-old Soviet hull with updated electronics"[1]"Even China's newest military gear is reminiscent of Western or Soviet technology from about 20 years ago"[1] Even the Chinese officials agree. "There is a 20-year gap between China and the U.S. military in equipment, weapons and systems, Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie told the 10th Shangri-La Dialogue on June 5 in Singapore. "I would call the gap big," he said. Liang acknowledged that China's military modernization has improved, but the "main battle equipment of our services … is mainly second-generation weapons." China does not have a large arsenal of third-generation weapons, systems or platforms. "For example, the army is still being motorized, not mechanized," he said."- Chinese Gen. Liang Guanglie [1] You also brought up there "advanced air fighter" it to isn't advanced. "Even its stealth fighter is rumored to have been build with secrets stolen from the USAF's 30 year-old F-117A design"[1] They like to throw around the amount of troops they have which does help. One problem with that is that their mass numbers don't make them very good fighters. It actually hinders them because it is a lot easier to train 2,000 troops extremely well then it is to train 20,000. Numbers don't win wars, skill, preparation and support does. China has a drafted army which throughout history has been the worst means of military strength. They lost the Sino-Vietnamese War, they argue that they achieved their goal except the Vietnamese stayed in Cambodia for quite awhile longer. You could argue U.S. sort of lost Vietnam. They didn't because their goals were actually achieved but they didn't completely obliterate them like everyone would expect. A bigger point is they are too dependant on other countries... We will get to that. I find no source that says "China dominates the Pacific Region". Though I do find that they control the Asia-Pacific. The U.S. still controls the Pacific. 2)Population. I quote you. "Without a doubt, a sizable and strong population is a necessary component of the superpower status. China once again achieves this." and I agree. Problem for you is that word strong. That means a usable population. So babies don't count and neither does the elderly. China has this limiting babies problem. So they inherited this " 4-2-1 phenomenon, in which one child is supporting two parents and four grandparents"[2] They are by law forcing their country to become a country of the elderly.With the working class not consisting of people under 18 or people over 65 by "2039, less than two Chinese taxpayers may have to look after one retiree."[3] 3)Economic Power. On the SURFACE this one seems completely true. But really it isn't. Like I said before. The more workers then non-workers speaks of how well a country will thrive. Problem is they are doing the exact opposite...like on purpose. By 2050 the amount of elderly people will rise" from 10% now to 40%" [4] Now we can't compare them to America yet because we are talking about the World. So lets look at other developing nations. "From about 2030 the country will have more elderly dependants than children (see chart 8), whereas in most other developing countries the opposite will remain true for the next few decades. China's pattern of ageing is very similar to that in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The difference is that in China this is happening at a time when the country is still relatively poor."[4] Now them surpassing America is a myth. In fact Forbes agrees "Myth No. 2: China could surpass the U.S. as the largest economy in 10 years. Truth: There is a reasonable chance that China will never surpass the U.S"[5]. China has been on a growth but now they are reaching their peak where they will start declining. "The last 30 years were characterized by demographic expansion very favorable to growth in the PRC. The next 30 will be generally characterized by demographics unfavorable to growth. The transition from growth-conducive to growth-hostile demographics will begin about the middle of this decade and continue indefinitely"[5] They also rely too much on other countries. They are a very export country. Which is great except when no one wants your goods anymore. Then you have this problem that you weren't producing anything for your country. So no you are not making money and not making goods that can support your country. Even their currency is dependant on other countries. "Without the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency and the American bond market as safe haven, China's exchange rate and balance of payments regime could not function."[5] 4) Nuclear Capabilities I think this is useless anyway because almost all developed countries have nuclear capabilities. They start teaching about nuclear reactions in Beginning Chemistry. Anyway the technology isn't what makes them a superpower. In that case North Korea is. It is the ICBMs or other means of transportation that make them a Superpower. China has a whopping 20 while the U.S. has a not so whopping 830 and Russia has more. [6] By 2015 China will have an extreme amount of 75 missiles focused on the U.S. The U.S. will have a boring amount of 780 on China.[6] China is really not looking to get a huge nuclear capability. "China has never responded by building large nuclear forces of its own and is unlikely to do so in the future". They don't seem to want it that bad. They might even be the first country that truly wants global peace! 5) Influential I 100% agree that China is influential. But I do not agree that it is relevant to a countries Super Power status. Greece is not considered to be a superpower but they are influencing decisions in the U.S. now. Most of Africa can't be considered at all to be a superpower but they influence decision as well. Modern day times every country is tied together by more than a thread. The only influence that matters is the influence they have to force another country to do as they wish. China doesn't do that. They are right beside North Korea and could easily obliterate them but have done nothing. They may have the capability but they don't ever try. You issue about when their population wants something they get it is utterly false. It isn't the amount of people that want something its the amount of money they have. China is a poor country their people don't make much money. When they want something they don't normally get it. Conclusion 1) China's military is large but far behind in technology and technology wins wars. They are also not very well trained. 2) Numbers don't matter if they are people that are not working. They are also poor people. Their population seems to have no relevance. 3)"China will have the world's largest economy (by 2016, in 5 years)" Completely false. Their economy is on a decline. 4)China has very little nuclear warheads 5)every country is Influential. Influence is irrelevant Economy, Working Pop. and Military is what is relevant. China has or will have none of these [1]http://defensetech.org... [2]http://www.ibtimes.com... [3]http://factsanddetails.com... [4]http://www.economist.com... [5]http://www.forbes.com... [6]http://www.atimes.com...