India Surpasses Japan to Become World’s Fourth-Largest Economy, Chinese Expert Reacts Critically

Beijing: India has officially overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, a milestone that has drawn reactions from China. Hu Xijin, former editor of China’s state-run Global Times, congratulated India with a sarcastic tone while targeting Japan. He remarked that India still lags behind China by 16 years in terms of GDP growth.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hu Xijin wrote: “Congratulations to India. Whether it happens this year or next, it’s only a matter of time before India’s GDP surpasses Japan and becomes the world’s fourth-largest economy. China overtook Japan in 2010 and became the second-largest economy. If we benchmark against Japan, India is still 15–16 years behind China. In global rankings, the gap is even wider.”

Criticism of Japan and Future Outlook for India
Known for his sharp commentary, Hu Xijin also criticized Japan, saying the country is currently in a precarious situation. Japan has fallen from the world’s second-largest economy 15–16 years ago to fifth place, largely due to entanglement in right-wing politics and controversies such as the Yasukuni Shrine issue. He argued that Japan’s industrial news has become increasingly rare.

Hu further suggested that for India to become the second-largest economy globally, it would need to surpass Germany first, and eventually challenge the positions of China and the United States.

India’s Economic Growth Trajectory
India’s economy, valued at $4,180 billion, has now overtaken Japan to claim the fourth spot. With a real GDP growth of 8.2% in Q2 of FY 2025-26—up from 7.8% in Q1 and 7.4% in Q4 of the previous fiscal year—India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world. Analysts project that by 2030, India’s GDP could reach $7,300 billion, surpassing Germany and potentially climbing to the third-largest economy globally. The United States remains the largest economy, with China in second place.

Global Reactions
Hu Xijin’s remarks drew responses on social media. User Mr. Leon wrote: “China may face a future similar to Japan, with a shrinking workforce due to declining population. India, on the other hand, will remain the youngest country with a vast workforce.”

India’s strong growth trajectory, combined with its young population and expanding workforce, positions it to continue rising in the global economic hierarchy in the coming years.