Does anyone in power anywhere actually think China has finally overtaken the US hegemony? Or are we pretending someone else might somehow hold that position?
Does anyone in power anywhere actually think China has finally overtaken the US hegemony? Or are we pretending someone else might somehow hold that position?
The end of hegemony isn’t usually immediately followed by the appointment of a new leader, usually it means fragmented power and war.
Yes, China is a likely eventual successor and in some parts is the world has replaced the US in being the influential superpower.
China is making trade deals and integration left and right and even Canada and Mexico are looking in other directions and cooperate more closely with china and eu. Maybe not a single power has to hold power
China has historically been the most powerful nation in the world multiple times, but always remained relatively inward looking, while acting as more of a merchant towards the rest of the world. I don't see any reason to think that will substantially change. So the most likely scenario is we end up, and arguably are already in, a truly multipolar world where no individual nation is the hegemon.
I think it will change.
China is currently trying to take control of the whole South China Sea. They’re in a cold war with the Philippines and Vietnam.
Next it will go for Taiwan.
Then either Siberian or Indian territory with the same “these used to be ours” justifications.
At the same time I think will use shadow fleets to take as much fish stocks from around the world as it can.
Not acting yet is not the same as not being expansionist. With all that “we’ll smash your head on the concrete” rhetoric China’s wolf warriors are very clear on where they’re headed.
Europe-China trade has already overtaken the US. If only you knew how bad things really are...
As for hegemony? Well the Chinese actually don't want to be world police.
> Does anyone in power anywhere actually think China has finally overtaken the US hegemony?
No, not really. For now we are headed towards a multipolar world rather than a hegemony.