Japan’s economy has been the world’s second largest, behind the United States’, for just over four decades but this year it is very likely to be overtaken by China. Beijing might be expected to crow about the impressive growth that has allowed it to eclipse its historical arch-enemy.
But after data were released on Monday showing the Chinese economy surpassed the Japanese on a quarterly basis in the second quarter that was not the reaction at all.
“China is a developing country,” according to Yao Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese Commerce Ministry who was the first to make any official comments after news of the country’s ascension to the number two spot. “The quality of China’s economic development still needs to be raised.”