20 January 2026 – Nicholas Jepson

Into the Chinese century?

Separating myth from reality

China’s rapid rise as a major economy has been an established fact for several decades. But China is now moving from being the world’s factory, to being an innovative superpower economy that rivals – and in some cases surpasses – the US and Europe in technology, trade, finance, and diplomacy. These shifts have caused deep anxieties in Western capitals. Sometimes panicked reporting of Chinese activities abroad is a symptom of these worries. But how much of these stories is really true? Is China building an empire in Africa? Is it using the lever of debt to take over ports, mines and power networks around the world? Is your Chinese smartphone spying on you?

In his talk for Engaging Issues, Nicholas will explore the often lurid exaggerations and the grains of truth in all these claims. He will take in the broad sweep of China’s rise since the 1970s – how it happened, how it has impacted the world, and whether we may be approaching a new era with China as the world’s dominant power.

Nicholas Jepson

Dr Nicholas Jepson is a Senior Lecturer in Global Development at the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute. His work looks at the implications of China’s rise for the rest of the world, encompassing natural resources, finance, and geopolitics. He leads the working group on Energy Transition, Extraction and Resources for the China in Europe Research Network (CHERN) and is a founding member of the Second Cold War Observatory.