US Bill Seeks to Strip China of 'Developing Nation' Status

Strategic Insights -

The US House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill directing the Secretary of State to strip China of its "developing nation" status in international organizations. The bill, titled "PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act," aims to reclassify China as an upper-middle-income country, high-income country, or developed country. This move comes amid a growing rivalry between the US and China at the United Nations, where China is closely allied with the Group of 77, a coalition of developing countries.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US House of Representatives has passed a bill with a 415-0 vote to reclassify China as an upper-middle-income country, high-income country, or developed country.
  • The bill states that the US should oppose China's labeling as a developing country in international agreements and organizations.
  • China is the world's second-largest economy, accounting for 18.6 percent of the global economy, according to Representative Young Kim.
  • The World Bank no longer uses the "developing/developed world categorization" and instead presents data aggregations for regions and income groups.
  • Some countries that have become developed in recent years still claim to be developing countries to receive preferential treatment.
  • The term "Global South" is used as an alternative term to developing countries, referring to interconnected histories of colonialism, neo-imperialism, and differential economic and social change.

Statistics:

  • 415: The number of votes in the US House of Representatives in favor of the bill.
  • 18.6: The percentage of the global economy accounted for by China.
  • 159: The number of countries classified as developing by the United Nations.
  • 134: The number of countries in the Group of 77.
  • 77: The original number of countries in the Group of 77 when it was established in 1964.

Sources:

  • Thalif Deen, UNITED NATIONS, Apr 03 (IPS) - As signs of a new Cold War are fast emerging at the United Nations, the US continues its war of words with the People's Republic of China (PRC).
  • Wikipedia: Economist Jeffrey Sachs, Retrieved from
  • Wikipedia: Developed country, Retrieved from
  • Tariq Khokhar, Global Data Editor & Senior Data Scientist at the World Bank, and Umar Serajuddin, Manager, Development Data Group, at the World Bank, published in the World Bank Data Blog.
  • Wikipedia: Gross national income, Retrieved from
  • Wikipedia: World Bank, Retrieved from
  • Wikipedia: World Trade Organisation, Retrieved from
  • Wikipedia: Global South, Retrieved from
  • Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, a former Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN and a former UN Under-Secretary-General.