China has considered itself the "Middle Kingdom" during its 5,000 year history. China has gained, lost and regained "the Mandate of Heaven" many times.

Xi has clearly decided that China has regained the Mandate of Heaven and is patiently constructing its central place as the pinnacle of culture and power. Putin is trying to reconstruct Russia's imperial past but he's peripheral to China as Russia has always been.

I think it's extremely foolish to set up a hostile dynamic between the U.S. and China. Yes, we can be competitors but it's dangerous and counterproductive to treat China as an enemy. Considering our dependence on China's manufactured goods it's cutting off our nose to spite our face.

I don't think we should go to war with China over protecting Taiwan. First, we would lose. Second, China does not intend to take over all of southeast Asia the way the Japanese did. They have never been imperialistic that way -- they only want trade and recognition of supremacy.

If you haven't already read "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000," by Paul Kennedy I recommend it. It's clear that China is working to displace the U.S. as the pre-eminent Great Power in the 21st century as the U.S. displaced the U.K. in the 20th century.

We could maintain a bi-polar Great Power system (U.S. + Europe + Japan, China + India + Russia) if we manage the situation wisely. China is patient in assembling its allies. The Trump administration is working as hard as possible to disrupt our alliances.

Wendy