China is a NATION and a REPUBLIC, which is an example of a country that is both. A NATION is a large group of people who share a common culture, language, history, and identity, while a REPUBLIC is a form of government in which the people have the power to elect their leaders. China is the world's most populous NATION, with over 1.4 billion people, and is the world's second-largest economy. It is also one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.