U.S. Can Avoid Confrontation With China

China’s dramatic transformation has come to symbolize America’s decline. Only a few years ago the U.S. was acclaimed to be the world’s “unipower” — economically, militarily and culturally superior to any and all.  Now America stagnates while the People’s Republic of China enjoys breakneck economic growth.  Some Pentagon advocates lobby for bigger military budgets based on the new Yellow Peril.

In fact, America is stronger and China is less threatening than often believed.  Nevertheless, there is no more important foreign policy task than getting the U.S.-PRC relationship right.  In coming years the superpower and potential superpower could accomplish much positive together; at odds, they could make a very unpleasant 21st century.