China is not our peer
For diplomatic reasons, it’s become customary for American presidents to shower communist dictators with opulent praise. Even within that off-putting tradition, President Donald Trump’s recent obsequiousness towards Xi Jinping is unprecedented.
TL;DR
- President Trump's praise for Xi Jinping is unprecedented and feeds the myth of China's economic dominance.
- Communist China has a history of deadly policies and undermining U.S. interests through intellectual property theft, cyber espionage, and support for the Iranian regime.
- The U.S. economy has remained dominant, unlike Japan and the European Union, due to its people and system.
- Despite advancements, the average Chinese citizen lives in poverty compared to the U.S., with a median household income significantly lower.
- China's economy relies on state-controlled manufacturing and exports, with massive infrastructure projects that are often underutilized.
- China's GDP growth is slowing, and economists suspect it may be zero or worse, with state media unable to report failures.
- U.S. military superiority is also noted, with Chinese defense systems proving ineffective against U.S. stealth capabilities.
- A free China could be a rival, but the current notion of China as a peer is based on wishful or misguided thinking, especially with a free and open economy.