How does China flex its muscles:

1.  Foreign reserves. China’s foreign reserves are values at $3.53 trillion, more than Japan, Saudi Arabia, 19 Euro nations, the UK and the US rolled into one.

2.  South China Sea activity has increased military spending by 167%.  US military spending by contrast increased 0.4% in the same period.

3.  Now in the top 3 contributors to the United Nations, topping Japan and Germany.

4.  The Pan Asian Bank.

Together these factors make China a potent factor in the world financial markets.