China is fast becoming a key player in the developing world through its hunt for natural resources.

This is leading to its increasing trade with Africa and Latin America - in turn bringing investment, development aid and technical know-how where it is most needed.

But questions have also been raised about how this may undo many years of work in tackling corruption, human rights abuses and autocracy in these countries.

China's efforts to extend its military reach, together with its increasing rivalry with the United States, also confirm the country's attempt to establish areas of strategic interest around the globe.

China's Long Arm

Programme 1: China's military expansion and the US: Maurice Walsh explores the increasing military rivalry between China and the United States.

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Programme 2: China's military expansion and Taiwan: Maurice Walsh explores the likelihood of Washington and Beijing finding themselves in conflict.

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Programme 3: Angolan oil for China: Lucy Ash reports from Africa where trade with China has quadrupled since 2003.

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Programme 4: Minnesota's iron for China: China has turned its attention to the US in its search for natural resources, even enabling the re-opening of an abandoned iron mine in Minnesota.

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Analysis asks whether China have the kind of foreign policy that befits a major world power.

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