And the World Bank just reported that by the end of this year, China’s economy will pass all other nations to become the largest single-nation economy in the world.

而世界銀行剛才報告，到了今年底，中國經濟會超越其他國家，成為世界上最大的單一國家經濟體。

So does that settle it? Is China now the world’s biggest super power? Well, no.

所以就這樣論定了嗎？中國現在是世界上最大的強國嗎？恩⋯並不是。

First, let’s look at their military. There’s a general consensus that China has the largest active military in the world.

首先，我們來看看他們的軍隊。普遍的共識是中國擁有世界上最大的現役軍隊。

But there’s also a consensus that both Russia and the US rank higher than China as far as military strength is concerned.

但也有個共識是，俄羅斯及美國在軍事力量方面排名較中國前面。

And a lot of this is due to greater defense spending, better technology, or a more developed military industrial complex on the part of the US and Russia.

而很大部分是由於美國和俄羅斯有較多的國防支出、技術比較進步、或者擁有發展更完善的軍事工業複合體。

China spends about 126 billion dollars a year on their military, which is more than Russia’s annual spending, but not even close to the US’s annual amount.

中國每年在軍事上大約花費1260億美元，比俄羅斯年度支出多，但遠不及美國的年度總額。

And both Russia and the US far outdo China when it comes to weaponry and technical savvy.

而俄羅斯以及美國兩國在軍備以及技術精通的程度上遠勝於中國。

Until recently, China was getting most of their military technology from Russia.

直到最近，中國一直是從俄羅斯取得大部份軍事技術。

They’re now developing some of their own weapons, but on the whole, they still lag far behind.

他們正在自行開發一些自己的武器，但整體來說仍遠遠落後。

For example, they’re the only member of the “Big Five” in the UN security council incapable of building their own aircraft carriers.

譬如說，他們是聯合國安理會五大常任理事國中，唯一沒有能力自行建造航空母艦的成員。

They did retrofit a Ukrainian Aircraft carrier in 2012, but no one is sure what its military capabilities really are.

雖然他們在2012年翻新了一架烏克蘭的航空母艦，但仍沒有人確定它真正的軍事能力如何。

Plus, there are widespread reports of corruption and lack of preparedness among Chinese military personnel.

此外，關於中國軍事人力腐敗以及戰備不足也有廣泛的報導。

Because their forces are directly tied to the Communist Party and not a free standing professional army,

由於他們的軍方直接受到共產黨的控制而不是一個自立的職業軍隊。

they’re criticized as being overly political; with bureaucracy, bribes and cronyism often trumping merit.

他們被批評為過度政治化--像是官僚體系、賄賂、任用親信等經常蓋過功績。

Recently, one Lieutenant-General was accused of illegally selling hundreds of military positions, appointments and contracts.

最近有一位中將被控告非法販售上百個軍職、官位與合約。

And the former head of the Chinese military was investigated for taking bribes.

而且前任中國軍方領袖也因賄賂而被調查。

Their military strength is improving, but the gap is still huge.

他們的軍事力量正在進步，但是差距仍然極大。

One general of the Chinese Academy of Military Science said in 2006 that “the gap between American and Chinese forces is at least 30, maybe 50 years.”

一名中國軍事研究院的上將曾在2006年說過：「美國與中國軍事力量的差距至少有30年，甚至是50年」。

Economically, there’s a similar divide. China does have the largest economy worldwide, but they also have the fourth largest land mass and the largest population.

經濟方面也有類似的分別。中國的確是世界上最大的經濟體，但也擁有第四大的領土以及最多的人口。

So, yes their economy is large, but is it healthy and sustainable? Some experts say no.

所以沒錯，他們經濟規模很大，但是是健全而且可永續發展的嗎？有些專家不這麼認為。

China’s population is disproportionately old and the country's birth rate is low.

中國人口不合比例的高齡化，而且該國的生育率很低。

According to the International Monetary Fund: “Within a few years the working age population will reach a historical peak and then begin a sharp decline.”

根據國際貨幣基金組織指出：「幾年之內，勞動人口會到達歷史新高，然後開始巨幅下降」。

This will lead to fewer workers and higher wages. So, they won’t be able to make goods as cheaply.

這會造成勞工減少以及薪資上升，因此使得他們無法便宜地製造商品。

China also has a low standard of living and a low GDP per capita, ranking 93rd in the world.

中國生活水平以及人均國內生產總值也很低，在世界排名第93名。

So they’re wholly reliant on exporting goods to countries with higher average annual incomes per capita.

所以他們完全仰賴將商品出口至每年人均所得較高的國家。

This inhibits their ability to generate their own economy and makes them more susceptible to competition from the rest of the developing world.

這限制了他們自行創造經濟價值的能力，使他們更容易受到來自其他發展中國家競爭的影響。

If India or another country can afford to pay its workforce less, manufacturers will almost certainly leave China.

如果印度或是其他國家可以經得起更低的勞動薪資，製造商幾乎一定會撤離中國。

Plus, its economy isn’t necessarily benefiting its people.

況且，中國的經濟不一定有讓人民受惠。

China is currently ranked 80th on the Transparency International Corruption Scale,

中國目前在國際透明組織「清廉印象指數」排名第80名。

Largely due to a widespread system of bribe-taking and embezzling by their government officials.

很大一部分是由於政府官員廣泛的賄賂與侵吞公款的情形。

They also have 13% of the world’s poor living inside their borders, which makes sense due to their overall size,

同時也有世界上百分之13%的貧窮人口住在中國境內，但因為他們整體大小關係所以還算合理。

But it's still a strong indication of economic disparity between classes.

但這仍然是一個階級間經濟不平等的明顯跡象。

China is an emerging force on the world stage. Their military and economy are growing at a record rate.

中國是世界舞台上的新興力量。他們的軍事力量以及經濟以空前的幅度成長。

But their ability to maintain this growth and develop into a real super power is still an open question.

但他們是否有能力保持成長以及發展成為真正世界強國尚無定論。

You might be wondering about the amount of US debt that is currently being held by China and how that affects the US’s status as a wealthy nation.

你也許好奇中國目前握有多少美國的債務，以及這對美國作為富裕國家的地位有何影響。

If so, please click now to see our video on that topic.

要是這樣的話，請點進來看我們有關這個議題的影片。

The U.S. deficit for this year is more than $500 billion dollars. Yet, the U.S. still regularly refers to itself as one of the most prosperous nations in the world. How is that possible?

今年美國政府赤字超過5000億美元。儘管如此，美國仍經常自稱是世界上最富有的國家之一。怎麼會這樣呢？

And remember, we upload new videos five days a week, so please subscribe.

不要忘記，我們一週會有五天上傳新影片，所以請訂閱我們的頻道。