Is China a super power?

[.]

[Laurence]

Yes

[Unluckyvan325]

Well, it has America by the economic nutsack. So I think they are atleast a contender for the position

[All knowing]

Unfortunately yes. they practically own us. WE BUY EVERYTHING FROM THEM. Obama gives trillions to China.

[Jeff]

Over half their citizens still wash their clothes in a nearby river, bathe only once a week, and walk to work or school on a dirt road.

Paper Tiger super power........at best.

[Kevin]

Hell yeah and the United States is probably going to have a Cold War with them in the next 5 to 10 years.

[Slap Happy]

Yes, but always remember that things change, and that the changes are not usually predictable.

Nobody would have predicted the rise of the Soviet Empire out of the ashes of the Russian Empire. The Germans who shipped Lenin into Russia to start a revolution in WWI sure didn't. They certainly never expected to be facing off against them in WWII.
The rise and fall of Japan, the destruction of the British Empire, the destruction of Germany, the Maoist victory over the Nationalist Chinese armies.None of these were predicted, and were likely unpredictable at any level.

China is a superpower but you can't just use military measures of power either. China has the population, the manufacturing and the technological development. China has a lot of economic power and it is increasing quickly.
So does India.

Also remember that throughout history most of the major wars started over an event that should have been quite insignificant.
If WWIII ever does break out there is no way to know who will start it, who will ally with whom, and no way to tell just how such a war might be fought.

The execution of one relatively insignificant young man, Archeduke Franz Ferdinand, was the trigger for WWI which in turn lead into WWII.
Again, not a predictable event.

This leads me to suspect it will be some stupid little thing in some corner of the world nobody really cares about that starts the next major war.

[Walle]

Nope, China isn't a superpower YET. But is set to become one in about 10 years time.

Being a superpower is more than just a good economy, USSR economy was only 40% of the US at its peak but it was a comparable superpower back then.

[Locoluis]

The following are the most powerful countries in the world.

- United States
A military, economic and mediatic superpower.
It's the largest Christian country in the world, and its media industry is the largest of the world.
It has the largest GDP (PPP) of the world, and ranks 4th in Human Development.
Hence, it's both the largest developed nation and the most developed nation of significant size.

- China
An industrial, economic and cultural superpower.
It's the largest exporter of the world and has the second largest GDP.
It also has the largest population, and the Han Chinese people are the world's largest ethnic group.
However, it's only a mediocre country with regards to Human Development.

- Japan
A technological and cultural superpower, Japan used to be a serious candidate for economic superpowerhood.
It ranks 12th in Human Development and 3rd in GDP (PPP).

- India
The second most populated country in the world, it ranks 4th in GDP (PPP).
While it boasts a rather wealthy elite, India is mostly underdeveloped and faces major social and health problems.
Its cultural legacy is ancient.

- The European Union
A large economic, political and cultural coalition of many of the world's most developed countries.
It's currently declining in power, but still has the potential to become a superpower on its own.
Its combined GDP is slightly larger than that of the U.S.
Germany alone is the second largest exporter of the world; it ranks 9th in Human Development and 5th in GDP (PPP).
The Netherlands is the most developed country in the European Union, ranking 3rd in Human Development.

- Russia
An energy and natural resource superpower.
It's the largest country by area and the largest exporter of oil and natural gas.
It ranks 6th in GDP (PPP) and a meager 66th in Human Development.

- Brazil
The second largest country in the Americas, it ranks 7th in GDP (PPP)
It's also about halfway between Russia and China in terms of Human Development.