China’s rise as a global economic superpower ----------------------------------------------- Oct 1, 1949: Communist Party leader Mao Zedong (above) proclaims People’s Republic of China (PRC) after Communists defeat Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek, in vicious civil war which leaves millions dead ----------------------------------------------- 1950-1953: China backs North Korea against U.S.-backed South Korea ----------------------------------------------- 1957: Mao uses Anti- Rightist Movement to purge critical intellectuals and reformers ----------------------------------------------- 1958-1962, Great Leap Forward: Mao’s drive for impossible targets for farm and industrial production leads to famine and deaths of 35-45 million people ----------------------------------------------- 1964, China’s first atomic test: China joins nuclear club amid escalating U.S.-Sino tensions over Vietnam War ----------------------------------------------- China’s GDP and position in world (2018 U.S. dollars) 1964 $55.2 billion 6 U.S. $662.3 billion 1 ----------------------------------------------- 1966-1976, Cultural Revolution: Student Red Guards unleash mass purge of “undesirables.” Mao closes China’s schools – urban intellectuals are sent to countryside to be “re-educated” through hard labour ----------------------------------------------- 1971, Ping-Pong Diplomacy: In sign of warming relations, China’s ping-pong team invites U.S. team to China U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (right) makes secret trip to China, paving way for PRC to join United Nations ----------------------------------------------- 1972: U.S. President Richard Nixon visits China ----------------------------------------------- 1976: Mao, the “Great Helmsman,” dies at age 82 ----------------------------------------------- 1978: Deng Xiaoping (below) becomes leader. Deng orchestrates China’s transition to market economy ----------------------------------------------- Over next decade growth averages around 10% per year ----------------------------------------------- 1979: U.S. President Jimmy Carter (inset) grants China full diplomatic recognition ----------------------------------------------- 1984: U.S. President Ronald Reagan (above) visits China. U.S. government allows Beijing to make purchases of U.S. military equipment ----------------------------------------------- 1985: China runs trade surplus with U.S. for first time ----------------------------------------------- 1985 $277.8 billion 8 U.S. $4,146.4 billion 1 ----------------------------------------------- Jun 3-4, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre: Students and workers protest in square, demanding democratic reforms and an end to corruption Army crushes movement killing hundreds ----------------------------------------------- Jun 1989: Jiang Zemin (above) becomes country’s leader ----------------------------------------------- 1989 $346.9 billion 11 U.S. $5,631.4 billion 1 ----------------------------------------------- 1998: Asian financial crisis coincides with reform of state-owned firms, throwing an estimated 30 million out of work ----------------------------------------------- 2000: U.S. President Bill Clinton signs U.S.-China Relations Act, granting Beijing permanent normal trade relations with U.S. ----------------------------------------------- 2000 $1,094.0 billion 7 U.S. $9,630.7 billion 1 ----------------------------------------------- 2001: China joins World Trade Organization ----------------------------------------------- 2002: Hu Jintao (above) succeeds Jiang Zemin ----------------------------------------------- 2004 $1,948.4 billion 6 U.S. $12,195.8 billion 1 ----------------------------------------------- 600 million People lifted out of poverty between 1981 and 2005, according to World Bank ----------------------------------------------- Aug 8, 2008: Olympic Games open in Beijing ----------------------------------------------- 2010: China overtakes Japan as world’s second- largest economy ----------------------------------------------- 2010 $5,880 billion 2 U.S. $14,448.9 billion 1 ----------------------------------------------- 2012: Xi Jinping (below) replaces Hu Jintao ----------------------------------------------- 2013: Xi announces “Belt and Road” trade initiative with Asia and Europe ----------------------------------------------- 2014, Rebalancing: President Barack Obama deploys 60% of U.S. navy and air force to Asia-Pacific region in bid to contain rise of China ----------------------------------------------- 2015: China leads world in manufacturing output at $2.01 trillion, compared to $1.87 trillion of U.S. ----------------------------------------------- 2018-2019, Trade War: U.S. President Donald Trump designates China a currency manipulator and imposes sweeping tariffs for its alleged unfair trade practices ----------------------------------------------- 2018 $13,608.2 billion 2 U.S. $20,494.1 billion 1 -----------------------------------------------Oct 1, 2019: President Xi oversees massive military parade through Beijing to mark 70th anniversary of founding of People’s Republic of China ----------------------------------------------- Sources: Brookings, Council on Foreign Relations, Reuters, South China Morning Post, World Bank, World Economic Forum Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS