China on the global stage

Over the past four decades, China has emerged as one of the biggest players on the world stage, driven also by its growing influence across the Global South. Here are nine facts and figures that map that ascent.

China is flooding the world market with cheap exports. Developing and emerging market countries may profit in the short term, but China’s actions could make it harder for them to develop local industries and create productive jobs.

Regimes around the world agree with China’s ideas about how the internet should be controlled. Chinese firms export digital technologies, and the government is lobbying internationally for more state regulation.

Critics have warned that Chinese projects could chip away at democracy in Latin America. Our research suggests the opposite may be happening.