Take a look at the back of your watch. If you are like most students, it will likely read “made in China.”

An increasing amount of products used daily in the United States come from China. This is largely the result of the economic boom China has been experiencing for the past 28 years. The familiar words “made in China” are evidence that this economic boom is affecting all Americans.

Almost three decades ago, communist China was mostly agricultural with government control over all businesses and little trade from its neighbors. In 1978, China implemented a plan of economic reform allowing more of a free market society to emerge.

Since then China has become one of the world’s most powerful economies; its annual growth was over 10 percent in 2004. This is no secret to world businesses, including those in the United States. As part of its economic reform, China started welcoming foreign investment. This foreign direct investment, which was unavailable before 1978, reached nearly $100 billion in just 16 years.

Outsourcing should cause concern for Americans who may lose their jobs to China over the next few decades. The cost of living in China is much lower than in the United States, allowing U.S. companies to move to China and pay workers much less. All this is good news for China but bad news for America.

In the last 15 years, China’s per capita income has quadrupled. If trends continue over the next 20 years, China is projected to pass Germany, Japan and finally the United States as the economic superpower of the world.

Much of the United States’ political power comes from its economic superiority. If China becomes the world’s most affluent trader, it will have great leeway in international affairs. China could become the most important country to all of us — the world’s headquarters of industry and technology.

Debatably, China is becoming the world’s favorite technology consumer. The number of mobile phone users in China will reach above 440 million by the end of 2006. Contrast that with the 195 million cell phone users in the United States in 2005, according to the CIA’s World Fact Book.

One of the most powerful political advantages the United States has is its ability to flaunt its economic superiority over other countries. If China becomes the largest economy, American trade agreements could suffer. With a bigger trading partner available, American embargos would have less power to influence unfriendly countries.

Already the Chinese have formed oil and energy agreements with Venezuela, the world’s fifth largest oil exporter. Such agreements with China cut into the United States’ potential oil imports and raise the price of gas at the pump.

The sheer amount of oil being consumed by the Chinese is daunting. Automobile use is growing rapidly, and already major automakers have invested millions in Chinese manufacturing plants.

China’s oil appetite has increased so much that by next year half of its oil demands will come from outside sources.

Undoubtedly, the world as we know it is changing. Americans must be aware of the major influence China will be making over the next few decades. The world’s largest nation will surely demand global respect as it marches toward becoming the wealthiest and most powerful country on earth.