The world’s gaze on China’s rise is fixated on the familiar emblems of power: trade balances, sprawling infrastructure, and military parades. Yet, the most profound shift, the one forging the contours of the 21st century, is unfolding quietly in its classrooms and laboratories.

To grasp the magnitude of this change, consider this: in 1949, 80% of China’s population was illiterate. Today, the nation produces nearly 50 lakh STEM graduates every single year, according to analysis by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. For perspective, India, with its own impressive talent pool, produces around 26 lakh graduates, while the United States produces roughly 6 lakh.

This tidal wave of human capital is the foundational resource of the modern world. It was no accident; it was built upon the

See Full Page