Abstract
Clarifying China’s position in the global system is an important logical basis for developing national diplomacy. Although much research has been done on China’s development status, most studies have been based on country comparisons or institutional environment. In today’s networked era in which the global economy, trade, personnel, and information are closely connected, studies on China’s global position and its status changes and influencing factors in multiple contact networks are still insufficient. In this study, from the perspective of diverse global contact networks, we constructed economic, cultural, and political influence indices to explore the changes and influencing factors on China’s status in the global system from 2005 to 2018. The results show that during the study period, China’s global influence in the fields of economic ties, cultural exchanges, and political contacts increased significantly, but its influence in the fields of cultural exchanges and political contacts lagged far economic ties. The pattern of China’s economic influence on various economies around the world has shown a transformation from an ‘upright pyramid’ to an ‘inverted pyramid’ structure. The proportion of these economies in low-influence zones has decreased from more than 60% in 2005 to less than 20% in 2018. China’s cultural and political influence on various economies around the world has increased significantly; however, for the former, the percentage of high-influence areas is still less than 20%, whereas for the latter the percentage of these economies in medium- and high-influence areas is still less than 50%. Analyses such as a scatter plot matrix show that geographical proximity, economic globalization, close cooperation with developing countries, and a proactive and peaceful foreign policy are important factors in improving China’s status in the diverse global network system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bremmer I, 2010. Article commentary: the end of the free market: who wins the war between states and corporations? European View, 9(2): 249–252. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-010-0129-z
Che Bingqing, Zhu Chuangeng, 2019. Analysis of China’s international influence and its spatial expansion since the reform and opening-up policy. Human Geography, 34(5): 109–116, 134. (in Chinese)
Cho M, Büthe T, 2021. From rule-taker to rule-promoting regulatory state: south Korea in the nearly-global competition regime. Regulation & Governance, 15(3): 513–543. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12398
Cooper A F, Flemes D, 2013. Foreign policy strategies of emerging powers in a multipolar world: an introductory review. Third World Quarterly, 34(6): 943–962. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2013.802501
Dai Xiang, 2020. China’s contribution to world economic growth: calculation based on a new framework. World Economic Studies, (11): 45–56. (in Chinese)
Dang Qin, Hu Wei, Ge Yuejing et al., 2020. Geo-economic linkages intensity and its influencing factors between China and South American countries. Acta Geographica Sinica, 75(10): 2061–2075. (in Chinese)
Du Debin, Duan Dezhong, Yang Wenlong et al., 2016. Spatial evolution pattern of Chinese economic power based on the sensitivity and vulnerability of states interdependence. Acta Geographica Sinica, 71(10): 1741–1751. (in Chinese)
Duggan N, 2020. China—the champion of the developing world: a study of China’s new development model and its role in changing global economic governance. Politics & Policy, 48(5): 836–858. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12377
Ferdinand P, Wang J, 2013. China and the IMF: from mimicry towards pragmatic international institutional pluralism. International Affairs, 89(4): 895–910. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2346.12050
Fu Mengzi, 2011. Some reflections on China’s international influence. Contemporary International Relations, (1): 1–6 + 13. (in Chinese)
Fumagalli M, 2018. Order in Asia beyond power transition: understanding China’s rise, changing international roles and grand strategies. Asian Politics & Policy, 10(2): 359–370. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.12385
Gong X, 2019. The Belt & Road initiative and China’s influence in Southeast Asia. The Pacific Review, 32(4): 635–665. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09512748.2018.1513950
Gruin J, Knaack P, Xu J J, 2018. Tailoring for development: China’s post-crisis influence in global financial governance. Global Policy, 9(4): 467–4178. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12566
Harnisch S, Bersick S, Gottwald J C, 2015. China’s International Roles: Challenging or Supporting International Order? New York: Routledge. doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315692708
Harvey D, 2005. A Brief History of Neoliberalism. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hou Chunguang, Du Debin, Liu Chengliang et al., 2020. Spatiotemporal evolution and factors influencing international student mobility networks in the world. Acta Geographica Sinica, 75(4): 681–694. (in Chinese)
Jiang Xiaorong, Yang Yongchun, Wang Shenglan, 2018. Spatial and temporal patterns of evolution of global trade networks during 1985–2015 and its enlightenment to China’s geostrategy. Geographical Research, 37(3): 495–511. (in Chinese)
Krausmann F, Erb K H, Gingrich S et al., 2013. Global human appropriation of net primary production doubled in the 20th Century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(25): 10324–10329. doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.l211349110
Lavenex S, Serrano O, Büthe T, 2021. Power transitions and the rise of the regulatory state: global market governance in flux. Regulation & Governance, 15(3): 445–471. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12400
Liang Bibo, 2013. Status of China’s involvement in the global network of intra-product specialization: an empirical study based on 3 measuring indexes. Finance & Trade Economics, (11): 82–92. (in Chinese)
Liu Hongsong, 2019. Political opportunities and China’s proposing behavior in the G20. Chinese Journal of International Review, 1(1): 1850002. doi: https://doi.org/10.1142/S2630531318500026
Liu Jian, Yang Qingshan, 2022. Demonstration of China’s status as a developing country: an empirical analysis based on the multi-dimensional development level classification of 190 economies. Progress in Geography, 41(10): 1882–1898. (in Chinese), doi: https://doi.org/10.18306/dlkxjz.2022.10.009
Liu Jian, Yang Qingshan, Gu Guofeng, 2023. The concept and analytical framework of China’s status as a developing great power integrating geographical thinking. Progress in Geography, 42(5): 898–913. (in Chinese), doi: https://doi.org/10.18306/dlkxjz.2023.05.006
Liu Weidong, Tian Jinchen, Ou Xiaoli, et al., 2017. ‘The Belt and Road’ Strategy Research. Beijing: The Commercial Press. (in Chinese)
Liu Weidong, Dunford M, Gao Boyang, 2018. A discursive construction of the Belt and Road Initiative: from neo-liberal to inclusive globalization. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 28(9): 1199–1214. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-018-1520-y
Liu Weidong, 2019. Third-party evaluation report on the progress of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative (2013-2018). Beijing: The Commercial Press, (in Chinese)
Liu Weidong, 2020. The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the development of economic globalization. Geographical Research, 39(7): 1439–1449. (in Chinese)
Liu Weidong, Yao Qiuhui, 2020. Theorizing the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative: based on institutional and cultural perspectives. Acta Geographica Sinica, 75(6): 1134–1146. (in Chinese)
Miranskyy A, Hamou-Lhadj A, Cialini E et al., 2016. Operational-log analysis for Big Data systems: challenges and solutions. IEEE Software, 33(2): 52–59. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/MS.2016.33
Ouyang Yao, 2018. The Development Path of a Great Power: Experiences and Theories. Beijing: Peking University Press, (in Chinese)
Pan C X, Kavalski E, 2022. China’s Rise and Rethinking International Relations Theory. Bristol: Bristol University Press.
Pu Xiaoyu, 2017. Controversial identity of a rising China. The Chinese Journal of International Politics, 10(2): 131–149. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/cjip/pox004
Shambaugh D, 2014. The illusion of Chinese power. The National Interest, (132): 39–48.
Steinfeld E S, 2010. Playing Our Game: Why China’s Rise Doesn’t Threaten the West. New York:Oxford University Press.
Su X B, Lim K F, 2019. Opium substitution, reciprocal control and the tensions of geoeconomic integration in the China-Myanmar border. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 51(8): 1665–1683. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X19863066
Tobler W R, 1970. A computer movie simulating urban growth in the Detroit region. Economic Geography, 46(S1): 234–240. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/143141
Wei Shaobin, Wei Suqiong, Li Hangfei, 2020. The status of China’s Taiwan in the global trade network since 2001: a social network analysis based on trade data. Taiwan Studies, (3): 82–93. (in Chinese)
Yao Xing, Wang Bo, Wang Lei, 2021. The status of China’s services sector in the global industry support system and its influencing factors. Finance & Trade Economics, 42(3): 145–160. (in Chinese)
Yates A, Webb A, Sharpnack M et al., 2014. Visualizing multidimensional data with Glyph SPLOMs. Computer Graphics Forum, 33(3): 301–310. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/cgf.12386
Yuan Jirong, Zou Song, 2021. Building a closer community with a shared future between China and Africa. The People’s Daily, 2021-11-27 (002). (in Chinese)
Zheng Zhi, Liu Weidong, Song Zhouying, 2021. Does the Belt and Road initiative promote value chain connection between China and the Silk Road countries? Chinese Geographical Science, 31(6): 979–995. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-021-1237-1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
LIU Jian: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis and investigation, writing and original draft preparation, funding acquisition; LIU Jibin: conceptualization, writing, review and editing, supervision; YANG Qingshan: writing, review and editing, funding acquisition, resources, supervision; CAI Sikai and LIU Jie: methodology and diagramming.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
Additional information
Foundation item: Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42201181, 42171181), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2412022QD002), The Medium and Long-term Major Training Foundation of Philosophy and Social Sciences of Northeast Normal University (No. 22FR006)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, J., Liu, J., Yang, Q. et al. Changes of China’s Status in the Global System and Its Influencing Factors: A Multiple Contact Networks Perspective. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 34, 265–279 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-024-1419-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-024-1419-8