China's overconfidence raises risk of weaponising power against the United States
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 10
China's overconfidence raises risk of weaponising power against the United States
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 10
Ahead of President Donald Trump's visit this week, a New York Times opinion writer says anti-US narratives and the viral “American kill line” meme are spreading across China.
The article argues false perceptions of US economic decay, crime and decline are hardening Beijing's stance and making Chinese leaders less likely to back down in future confrontations.
It says the United States still has low violent crime, unmatched geopolitical and financial power, and an economy more than 50% larger than China's, despite nearly half of Chinese respondents seeing waning US influence.
Is China's confidence a true show of strength or a mask for its deep internal crises?
How does a viral meme about American collapse translate into real-world military moves in the South China Sea?
When two rivals both believe the other is a declining power, how close are they to a catastrophic miscalculation?