A clearer look at China’s strengths and limits shows a country in transition. The United States, meanwhile, is talking itself into pessimism at a time when both countries face real constraints but also untapped room for adjustment.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump meet ahead of their summit talk in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. Credit: Mark Schiefelbein via AP Images
A certain pessimism has settled over the United States. It surfaces in debates on technology, industry, and geopolitical positioning, reflecting a belief that America is losing its edge just as China is gathering momentum.
An excerpt from Xi Jinping's New Year's speech, delivered December 31, 2025. Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
A measure of concern is healthy; strategic competition does demand vigilance. But when anxiety hardens into a narrative of inevitable decline, it risks
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