The recent full-blown global financial crisis, triggered by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, has been called the worst financial crisis since World War II. Since China's financial institutions have been relatively isolated from the global financial system, the initial impact from the global financial crisis were not so severe. Consumption in most developed countries has, however, shrunk in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. As a result, China's export industries suffered from sluggish overseas demand, meaning that the current global economic crisis clearly caused some serious damage to the Chinese economy.
Amidst an unprecedented and distressing economic situation, China's policymakers quickly came up with stimulus packages of RMB 4 trillion for two years. This stimulus package effectively boosted the Chinese economy, achieving the target growth rate of 8% in 2009. It means that in the midst of a severe global economic recession, only China was able to achieve meaningful economic growth.
On the other hand, the US which was once touted as the world's main growth engine, has stagnated. The unemployment rate has recently hit double digits and the status of dollar has been weakened as trust in the dollar as the key currency has been undermined.
In addition, a rising China is becoming one of the world's most influential buyers at the market for oil and other natural resources. With cash flowing from huge foreign exchange reserves, China is in a comfortable position to buy oil and other strategically important resources in the world. The other example of the rise of China can be seen in the automobile industry. China was expected to produce over 13 million vehicles in 2009, becoming the world's largest automobile producer and consumer. In the automobile industry, some Chinese automakers are eager to acquire brands and technologies from foreign firms as the domestic auto industry struggles to produce high-end vehicles and break into markets of developed nations.
At this point of time, it seems uncertain what the world's political and economic landscape would look like after the end of the current global economic crisis. It is, however, clearly certain that China would be the only winner in the midst of the current global economic crisis and that China will join the ranks of the great powers in world politics and economy.
As illustrated above, the main purpose of these books is to analyze the rise of China and to seek out the various implications for Korea-China relations. All 22 topics were selected in order to elicit detailed strategies for Korea facing various circumstances related to the rise of China.
To give some examples, Korean policymakers are recommended to maintain stable relations with China in a consistent and predictable way. Also, it will be critically important to seek a balance between Korea's relations with the US and China in the future. With respect to economic relations, Korea should not be reluctant to explore China's potentially immense domestic market and to expand the exchange between the two countries. However, Korean policymakers must urgently find ways to reverse the current overdependency of the Korean economy upon China.
In conclusion, more efforts should be made to improve bilateral relations between Korea and China, politically and economically because China is fast emerging from the status of a regional power to become one of the world's powerhouses.