China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States

On December 17, 2013 the Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report by Asian Trade and Finance Specialist Wayne M. Morrison entitled China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States, Mr. Morrison discusses both positive and negative aspects of China's economic growth in relation to the United States.

China - the World's Largest Energy Consumer

On September 4, 2012 the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released an analysis revealing that China, the most populous country in the world, is also the largest energy consumer. The report provides a detailed discussion of China's consumption and production of oil, natural gas, coal, renewable energy, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy. See the full analysis or an analysis brief. Use the pull down menu at the top to access other countries' briefs also.

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission 2010 Report

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission was created on Oct. 30, 2000 to "monitor, investigate, and submit to congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and to provide recommendations, where appropriate, to Congress for legislative and administrative action." The commission's 2010 Report to Congress is now available. Topics addressed in the report are:

• China’s proliferation practices,
• the qualitative and quantitative nature of economic transfers of U.S. production activities to China,
• the effect of China’s development on world energy supplies, 
• the access to and use of U.S. capital markets by China, 
• China’s regional economic and security impacts, 
• U.S.-China bilateral programs and agreements,
• China’s record of compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, and 
• the implications of China’s restrictions on freedom of expression.

The report includes 45 recommendations to Congress.  An executive summary is also available.

Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China

On August 16, 2010 the Department of Defense released a report entitled "Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China." According to the report, despite making some progress, Chinese military transparency is still lacking. For more information, see the full report or the news article describing it.

China - Cyber Warfare and Computer Network Exploitation

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission released Oct. 22, 2009 a report entitled "Capability of the People's Republic of China to Conduct Cyber Warfare and Computer Network Exploitation." Aimed at
China specialists, policymakers, and information operation professionals, the report assesses China's capability "to conduct computer network operations (CNO) both during peacetime and periods of conflict."

Other reports about China are also available on the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission website.

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will post its full 2007 report on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. The Introduction, Executive Summary and Recommendations, however, are already available. The report contains 42 recommendations for congressional action. It reveals positive news about such things as China's role in encouraging the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons production capability, its contribution of forces to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Sudan, and economic policies that have lifted the Chinese people out of poverty. The report also expresses concern about such things as a lack of enforcement of intellectual property laws, a "retreat by China from market-based economic principles, the growth of China’s information control regime, and the use by China of espionage to acquire military and industrial technologies."

Globalization

This month's issue of the electronic newsletter Liber8 from the Federal Reserve focuses on globalization and concerns Americans have about economic competition from China and India. It includes a summary of the issues, links to recent articles and more in-depth reading, and free data sources.