Second in the World Again? That’s Not an Achievement — It’s China’s Default Setting

China’s rise to the world’s second-largest economy is often credited entirely to the Communist Party’s wise leadership. But historically, total GDP ranking second—or even first—has been China’s normal state for centuries, not an achievement worth bragging about. From 1000 to 1870, China led the world; even after missing the Industrial Revolution and enduring wars and chaos, it held second place until the 1930s.

Mao’s era was catastrophic, dropping China to seventh globally—an unprecedented low. Reform and opening-up wasn’t Deng Xiaoping’s invention; it emerged spontaneously from the people, with the Party merely stepping aside rather than leading. East Asian rapid industrialization shows that any reasonable dictator can deliver 9–10% growth—China’s performance under Deng, Jiang, and Hu was standard, not exceptional.

Under Xi, growth has slumped to 5–6%, lagging far behind Korea and Taiwan’s sprint to developed status. China’s economic success stems from its hardworking people, not the Party—which has mostly hindered progress and claimed credit for others’ efforts.

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