I'm telling you guys, the Americans are fanatical about remaining #1.
Most Americans (like Chinese) are more concerned with their day-to-day lives, rather than being number 1.
They have a remarkable ability to get other countries to do their bidding while giving nothing in return.
And previously the USA was much bigger and dominant in terms of economics, trade, military, currency etc.
So the USA didn't have to give anything in return, in order to get what it wanted.
But now China is larger than the USA is most respects.
China has awoken the sleeping giant. She needs as much population, GDP growth, research investment/talent, allies, etc. as she can get. It's basically a wartime situation without the shooting now.
Do not underestimate the determination of the US to suppress China.
And you can say the same of China.
Previously, the Chinese people saw the US as benign or friendly.
Now the US is actively hostile in trying to keep the Chinese people poor and technologically backward.
And that viewpoint has filtered down into the population.
It's the USA which should be afraid of what China will unleash in the coming years.
Remember China already spends more on R&D than the USA, and we're going to continue seeing explosive growth in the coming years
I think you've been in the USA too long.