Superpowers US and China in comparison: who is David and who is Goliath?

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It’s the handshake the world has been waiting for: On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden (80) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (70) met near San Francisco after a year of radio silence. For the two heads of state it is clear: the numerous disagreements must not escalate into a conflict, as Biden emphasized at a subsequent press conference.

An open conflict between the two superpowers would be devastating: the US is the largest military power in the world, and China is also arming itself – probably with the aim of soon being able to hold a candle to the American armed forces. China, which is officially classified as an emerging country, could soon overtake the US in many other areas as well. A head-to-head race between the two giants in surprising disciplines:

According to the ‘Country Comparison’ platform, there is a striking similarity: the political stability in the country. The US only achieved a score of 67 out of 100 points, China 69 out of 100 points – so better. This result is evident from figures from the World Bank’s ‘Worldwide Governance Indicator’.

So 1-0 for China – although it should be noted that a stable political situation does not necessarily mean that it is good. The country has been ruled by the same president, Xi Jinping, for ten years. There is no end in sight to his term, nor are there any democratic elections. In contrast, the US, with its regular elections, is more “unstable”, but also much more democratic.

China also scored a surprise victory in health. According to 2022 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the average life expectancy at birth in China is 78 years – in the United States only 76 years.

By 2050, Chinese citizens will live an average of 84 years, compared to just 83 years in the US. According to the US Department of Health, this is mainly because Americans die very often from chronic diseases. So China is better off here too. That means: two points for China, none for the US.

According to the World Bank, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 was $17.73 trillion and that of the United States was $23.32 trillion. The East Asian country’s unemployment rate stands at 5.1 percent, while in the US under the Biden administration it is only 3.9 percent. So the American economy is doing a lot better – and the US is catching up – the ratio is 2:1.

But not for long: in 2022, approximately $3.6 trillion worth of goods were exported from China, according to the WTO. China’s exports rose sharply in 2021, with the value of goods increasing by about $786 billion compared to the previous year. In 2022, exports increased by approximately $235.4 billion. In 2022, approximately $2.06 trillion worth of goods were exported from the United States. The value of US exports grew by approximately $310 billion in 2022. China makes the third point.

During the meeting on Wednesday in San Francisco, Biden and Xi pass the ball to each other. They compare cars as they leave the building. Xi proudly lets Biden take a look at his luxury car before the American presents his own Cadillac. ‘Do you know what we call the car? “The beast,” he says proudly. So it seems clear who won when it comes to limousines. At least, if you ask Joe Biden. A point of consolation for the US.

It’s 3-2 to China, so do we have a winner? It’s not that easy. The two superpowers are more similar than you think. And the score can change again at any time.

Source: Blick