To Lose China's Support is to Lose Superpower Status

摘要

The United States has been the world's leading superpower since the end of World War II. However, if history tells us anything, it surely tells us that superpowers, whether a superpower in the true sense of the word, a hegemonic power, imperial dynasty, or even an empire, do not last forever. Many journals often tout China as the next likely superpower. The United States has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world. However, the United States is also $12.25 trillion dollars in debt with China being the largest foreign holder of this debt. Additionally, the trade balance, or rather the trade imbalance, between the United States and China is very telling. While the United States receives 16.9% of its imports from China, China-in turn-only imports 5.6% of its imports from the United States. Given America's significant debt and trade imbalance with China, the U.S. must maintain good relations with China in order to retain its superpower status. As a communist country, China may never fit the mold to become a full ally with the United States, assisting all NATO countries in spreading democracy around the world. However, the United States must accept the fact that China does possess vital resources and capabilities that would be extremely helpful in assisting to solve world crisis. While the U.S. continues to fight a War on Terror, with no end in sight, and while continuing to honor its commitments to allied nations around the world for various reasons to include domestic, humanitarian, and military operations other than war, it is critical to gain (additional) support from countries able to assist. And China, with its vast economic resources, is a country able to assist-thus affording the United States a better opportunity to remain a superpower.