The surge in the size of the middle class in China is an ongoing trend that everyone should be happy about.

Yet attempting to assess the actual size of this group has sparked fierce debate in the country, indicating that too many expectations of them may have prevented a consensus from being reached on how to define the middle class in China.

The latest report on global wealth by Credit Suisse is the latest fruit of the endeavor to identify this crucial group of Chinese adults who will be the key to unlocking the country's consumption potential.