Chinese dreams of the future

Xi Jinping's long-term ambitions could well lead to a wariness about China's intentions across the world

China has released its 14th Five-Year Plan(FYP) 2020-25 and its Long Range Objectives for 2020-35. These two documents set out the trajectory that China is determined to travel in what it refers to as the “next era” in history. At the end of 2035, the country is expected to achieve “socialist modernisation”, paving the way for the next big target of being a developed modern nation by 2049, marking the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic. 

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) is to double in 2035 over 2020. Although no GDP growth targets have been set, this implies