Is Chinese power about to peak?
The country’s historic ascent is levelling off. That need not make it more dangerous
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20230513_LDD001.jpg)
The rise of China has been a defining feature of the world for the past four decades. Since the country began to open up and reform its economy in 1978, its GDP has grown by a dizzying 9% a year, on average. That has allowed a staggering 800m Chinese citizens to escape from poverty. Today China accounts for almost a fifth of global output. The sheer size of its market and manufacturing base has reshaped the global economy. Xi Jinping, who has ruled China for the past decade, hopes to use his country’s increasing heft to reshape the geopolitical order, too.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Peak China?”
Leaders May 13th 2023
More from Leaders
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240817_LDD010.jpg)
America is sabotaging itself in the global battle for talent
Some countries are much more serious about attracting the highly skilled
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240817_LDD004.jpg)
Time to shine a light on the shadowy carry trade
Transparency will help to avoid financial blow-ups
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240817_LDD020.jpg)
Reluctantly, America eyes building more nuclear weapons
The superpower faces more adversaries, new technologies and less-confident allies
Our forecast puts Kamala Harris and Donald Trump neck and neck
We relaunch our presidential-election model for a transformed race
The rights, wrongs and risks of Ukraine’s Kursk incursion
Ukrainian forces should be careful not to overreach
Why Ethiopia and Nigeria must press on with reforms
Currency liberalisation alone is not enough