It’s official: China has surpassed Japan as the world’s second largest economy after the United States, reaching an estimated GDP of $5.8 trillion, compared to Japan’s $5.4 trillion in 2010. It was a long time coming, but the combination of the rising vitality and massive population of China (at 1.3 billion, more than ten times Japan’s 127 million) and the slow greying of Japan’s workers
“lost decade” of the 90s made the change of positions inevitable. Japan is taking the official announcement in stride, pointing out how much its trading relationship with China benefits both sides, but it’s a shock to have 42 years as the world’s second-largest economy come to an end. The Japanese have a mantra they use whenever contemplating anything they find unpleasant, which is sho ga nai, meaning “it can’t be helped,” and I believe more than a few Japanese are uttering this line today. Well, congratulations to China on your new global status. Now that you’re #2, could you maybe do something about those ridiculous Gundam bootlegs?
China is the world’s #2 economy. Enjoy your fake Hello Kitty.
