English became the global language because of the power and influence of English speakers and English-speaking countries in modern times. English is therefore the language most associated with how the modern world operates, or, in other words, the international system.
However, China’s future is by no means certain: It is already a world superpower, therefore it has become essential in diplomacy and business.
As an example, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg recently surprised his Chinese audience when he delivered a 30 minute speech in Mandarin. Furthermore, the head of the US – China Institute advocates that more western CEOs learn Mandarin to avoid being at a disadvantage given the booming Chinese business infrastructure and the massive purchasing power of Chinese citizens.
Mandarin is becoming increasingly important as China moves ever closer towards replacing the US as the world’s largest economy. Those who are fortunate enough to be bilingual in English and Mandarin will surely be sought after by future employers and will enjoy a significant advantage as they enter the job market.
