Think again: It may not be China century

China realized a V-shaped recovery in 2009 and maintained a GDP growth rate of 8.7 percent. The country's achievement has led many in the world to count on China for a way out and to place more international responsibilities, such as tackling climate change, on its shoulders that "come with its growing strength".

As 1.3 billion Chinese ushered in the Year of the Tiger - a symbol of power - last month, it seemed as if the prophecy that the 21st Century is the "century of China" had finally come true.

Or has it?