🇨🇳 China - Capability Ratings
China’s national capability reflects a complex balance of economic strength, technological advancement, military modernization, and global influence. As the world’s second-largest economy and a leading hub for manufacturing, innovation, and infrastructure development, China’s capabilities span both hard power—such as defense, critical technologies, and industrial scale—and soft power, including education, diplomacy, and cultural reach. The capability ratings presented here provide a structured assessment of China’s performance across these domains, offering insight into its current position, future trajectory, and the challenges it faces in sustaining long-term strategic competitiveness.
Figure 1. National Capability Ratings
Figure 2. National Capability Ratings
| Index Component | Rating | Outlook | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARD CAPABILITY | |||
| Sub Domain A: Critical Technology | |||
| Advanced ICT | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Artificial Intelligence | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Quantum Computing | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Advanced Materials | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Energy Technology | A | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Biotech & Genetics | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Space, Robotics & Mobility | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Position, Navigation & Timing | B− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Sub Domain B: Strategic Infrastructure | |||
| Resource Infrastructure | B+ | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Energy Infrastructure | A− | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Transport Infrastructure | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Comms Infrastructure | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| AI & Digital Infrastructure | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Social Infrastructure | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Advanced Manufacturing | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Aerospace Infrastructure | B− | Negative | Aug 25 |
| Sub Domain C: National Security | |||
| Land Capability | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Maritime Capability | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Air Capability | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Space Capability | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Intelligence Capability | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Cyber Capability | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Nuclear Capability | C+ | Stable | Aug 25 |
| SOFT CAPABILITY | |||
| Sub Domain D: Human Capital | |||
| Primary & Secondary | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Higher Education | A− | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Vocational & Technical Skills | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Workforce Up-Skilling | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Digital & AI Literacy | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Research & Innovation | B+ | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Public Health & Wellness | A | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Sub Domain E: Information & Influence | |||
| National Identity | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Language & Exchange | A | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Cultural Influence | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Diplomatic Engagement | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Diaspora | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Information Integrity | B− | Negative | Aug 25 |
| Domestic Messaging | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Sub Domain F: Governance & Integrity | |||
| Stability & Rule of Law | A | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Policy & Regulation | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Government Effectiveness | A− | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Integrity & Corruption | B+ | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Transparency | A− | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Public Trust | B | Negative | Aug 25 |
| Resilience & Crisis Response | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| ECONOMIC CAPABILITY | |||
| Sub Domain G: Financial Strength | |||
| Monetary/Currency Stability | A | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Sovereign Creditworthiness | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Economic Growth | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Financial Markets | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Global Financial Integration | A | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Sovereign Wealth Capacity | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Governance & Regulation | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Capital Availability | A− | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Sub Domain H: Production & Innovation | |||
| Labor Productivity | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Land Productivity | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Capital Productivity | B+ | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Output Complexity | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Research & Development | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Intellectual Property | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| SMEs & StartUps | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Technology Adoption | A− | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Sub Domain I: Investment & Trade | |||
| Trade Infrastructure | A− | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Digital Trade Capacity | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Foreign Direct Investment | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Export Competitiveness | B+ | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Export Sophistication | B | Stable | Aug 25 |
| Global Value Chain Role | B | Positive | Aug 25 |
| Strategic Trade Dependency | C+ | Negative | Aug 25 |
| Trade Leverage | B+ | Stable | Aug 25 |
