The global influence of China

Last week, after Japan confirmed China had overtaken it as the world's second largest economy, a Gallup Poll found that more than half of Americans mistakenly see China rather than the United States as the world's leading economic power.

In Chinese people's eyes, China may be rising from a regional power to a global player, but it is still far from playing the unique role the US has been in the international arena, let alone becoming the largest economy, matching the high per capita income of the Americans. The US remains the world's super-power with the strongest military, and the most advanced technology, excelling in sophisticated diplomacy and exercising the greatest influence on higher education and culture across the world.

The global power pyramid, however, is getting increasingly flat because of multi-polarization. The US may still be the only dominating power, but it can no longer dominate world affairs alone. Emerging countries like China are getting to share more global power.