Understanding China Today and in the Future
Olympics Illustrate Power and Potential
By Brian Calle, Managing Director, Gambit Consulting

China's
vast developmental transformation of downtown Beijing for the 2008 Olympics makes one wonder about the potential of China. In just seven years, the barren space surrounded by some meager buildings and residences was transformed into the wonder that is now called Olympic Village. From watching the spectacular opening ceremonies of the Olympics, it is clear that China was focused, almost solely, on the Games.
But behind the spectacular curtain of the Olympics is a reality of China that few people see. Of the
1.3 billion inhabitants of China (some estimate it at closer to 1.4), 80% are still in poverty, literally. So after doing the math, only about 300 million people, the size of the United States population, are really living in the developed world - and that estimate is even high. China does have an upside, though. Their
quasi free-market economic system has certainly helped further develop the country and garner it a pivotal role in the global economy. Militarily, China is strong and will continue to increase in strength.
The country remains heavily
economically tied to the United States, which is a good thing because trade opportunities in both directions are the best remedy for empowering China's poverty population through
economic investment and education. Their development potential is extraordinary as seen in Beijing, and although America still remains the future, China should in no way be underestimated.