Indisputably, China now is a global economic and political superpower. Since 2010, it has become the second largest economy in the world, and has increasingly played a pivotal role in international political relationships. According to Forbes, China was ranked second, after the United States as the world’s most powerful country. Key ranking parameters include leadership, economic influence, political power, strong international alliances, and military strength (AffairsCloud, February 4, 2025). According to Leung and Xu (2015), China’s social policy development can be characterized by three turning points. The first turning point was the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Through the centrally-planned economy, a relatively egalitarian and comprehensive social protection system was established. The second turning point was the market-oriented reforms and opening up of China in 1978. Thereafter, the marketization economic and social reforms had led to the gradual emergence of a new market-oriented and pluralistic social welfare system. During this period, issues of rising income inequalities, job insecurity, and a lack of social security coverage threatened social stability, in 2006, China entered into the third turning point in which the Communist Party of China (CPC) envisioned the construction of a harmonious society, and pledged to achieve Xiaokang society, a moderately prosperous society by 2020.