Opinion | Decline no longer a choice for fading US as China rises to power

China is rapidly closing the gap on the US on the economic and military fronts as its geopolitical influence grows

China is on the verge of becoming to America what Britain was for the Dutch, an unstoppable rising power knocking it from its place of privilege

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Published: 1:30am, 13 Jan 2022Updated: 1:55am, 13 Jan 2022

In recent years, the rivalry between Washington and Beijing has become a leading paradigm in international politics. The United States’ role as the world’s unipolar power is at stake, and it would not be the first superpower to experience a decline.

“Let China sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world” is a quote widely attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, and it appears to have become a reality. For more than two decades, China has been the epitome of a rising power and the sole nation ready to challenge the US in its role as global hegemon.

China is the world’s largest country in terms of population, the fastest-growing major economy, the largest manufacturer, the second-largest consumer and the second-largest military spender. It is not a question of if, but when, China will overtake the US as the world’s largest economy.

Especially impressive is China’s ability to close the economic gap. In 1960, China’s GDP was about 11 per cent of that of the US. In 2019, it was at 67 per cent – a trend that appears set to continue.

The gap on the US in terms of military budget has also closed. Two decades ago, China was still considered a regional power. Now, it has established its presence in Africa as well as in the South China Sea.

With an extended geopolitical presence, China’s influence has grown. China’s rise also raises the question of whether one has seen the apogee of American power and whether its decline is inevitable.

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