America’s China Syndrome

Another reigning cliché is that the sun is setting on us as it did on the British Empire. But what does that mean? China isn’t remotely powerful, influential, or rich enough to play the leading role of America, and we aren’t nearly so weak, ignorable, or poor as to deserve the supporting gig as 1950s Britain.

Besides, although China clearly wants its moment in the sun, it doesn’t seem particularly eager or able to lead. “When was the last time Beijing offered its own peace plan for the Arab-Israeli conflict, for instance?” asks Jonathan Eyal, Europe correspondent for the Straits Times in Singapore.

“Other emerging powers are no better,” he adds. “What is India’s contribution to, say, solving the crisis in Sudan? Or Russia’s plan for dealing with the North Korean nuclear problem?”

In other words, American leadership is still the global norm.

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