Two scholars argue that in order to avoid a conflict, the superpowers need to dispel the notion that status is tied to hegemony.
The escalating rivalry between America and China is usually attributed to their clash of interests. It is not difficult to find areas where the interests of these two countries collide. They are at loggerheads, for example, over military support for Taiwan, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, trade and technology policies, in 5G and semiconductor manufacturing.
But these conflicts mask a deeper cause of Sino-American rivalry: their quest for status. For people, status speaks t
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Bob Fu's relationship with China has gone through phases. First, he thought money would solve his problems there; then he joined protesters at Tiananmen Square, thinking the politics could change. In the end, he determined, only God could save China, and he's been fighting for religious freedom in China ever since he resettled in Texas. With his nonprofit, ChinaAid, prospering like never before, he says the U.S. is finally catching on.