University of Warwick China specialist Professor Shaun Breslin is to give a special presentation in the University of Warwick's London Office on Wednesday 27th of April that will argue that there are many misconceptions about Chinese power, and the obstacles to China's inexorable rise. However he says "Yes China will probably become an ever important global power, but its rise to supremacy is far from inevitable"

Professor Breslin will give his briefing at 11am on Wednesday 27th of April (coffee available from 10.30am) in the University of Warwick's London Office in 3 Carlton House Terrace (The Warwick Office can be found within the Work Foundation). Press are welcome.

Professor Breslin says:
"China cannot be ignored. Double-digit growth rates, ever growing trade surpluses with the developed world, large and growing foreign currency reserves, massive foreign investment inflows, and the overall size of the Chinese economy combine to provide a prime face case for considering China to be a major global economic power. Add to this an ambitious programme of military modernisation, and for some observers it is not a question of whether China can become a global superpower, but when.."

"However for others, Chinese power is overstated. On one level, some of the more loud proponents of Chinese power either ignore the domestic context or assume continued domestic stability. But as with many other countries, rapid economic growth has not been problem free, and there are considerable domestic challenges that remain to be overcome. On another level, we need to consider what we mean by power - particularly, but not only, global economic power."

"Whilst accepting that China's importance and significance is real and likely to grow, this presentation deliberately emphasises misconceptions of Chinese power, and the obstacles to China's inexorable rise. Yes China will probably become an ever important global power, but its rise to supremacy is far from inevitable."


For further details please contact:

Professor Shaun Breslin
Department of Politics and International Studies
University of Warwick Tel: 024 76 572558
Shaun.Breslin@warwick.ac.uk

Peter Dunn, Press & Media Relations Manager
University of Warwick, Tel: 024 76 523708
Email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk


PR32 25th April 2005