I have argued a few times in this space that China is poised to become the premier power in the world, replacing the United States at the pinnacle of the international community.
It is in the interests of the United States to delay this transition as much as possible to allow the Western world to adjust to the new reality and just as importantly to allow the American people to adjust to it. Within a generation the American people will be faced with the reality that they and their country are not "touched by God" and "destined to rule the world". That fact will cause a great deal of angst amongst the American people once it becomes clear to them.
Which is why the decisions to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement and to put the US embassy to Israel in Jerusalem are so wrong headed.
Make no mistake, the Chinese wants to replace the United States at the top of the international food chain. They are working very diligently to make it happen. For the most part they are doing it with money, which they have alot of and which they are spreading around very thickly in many parts of the world.
However, the Chinese are also going to take advanatage of any actions by the US government to allow it to use money and diplomacy to further their interests. The US gave them two openings this week.
The first is the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. The Trump administration withdrew from the agreement and told the other signatories that they have to as well. Both China and Russia told the Trump Administration to piss up a rope. Therefore, any sanctions imposed by the US will be completely ineffective and all they will do is push Iran further into the Chinese camp. Iran is an important player in the Middle East so where it goes so goes its vassal states and organizations.
Fortunately for the United States Iran is not very popular with the Arab States. They could have acted as a counterweight to Iran in the region. However, it is going to be difficult to convince them to assist the US in pursuing its goals in the region after opening an embassy in Jerusalem. The US has always supported Israel over the Arabs and many of the Arab states have accepted that as the price of doing business. Putting an embassy in Jersalem, which is just as important to Muslims as it is to Jews and Christians is a real slap in the face to all Arabs, including those Arab states that have supported US policies in the region. A relationship that has been fraying for the better part of a decade is going to become even more threadbare and that is without the Chinese using the embassy decision to convince the Arab states that they have a better friend in China than the US, which you know they are going to do.
The Chinese are using money to buy influence in Africa, parts of South American and parts of Asia. Now the US has given them a diplomatic opening to increase their influence in the Middle East. Looking at the trend very soon the only influence that the West will be able to wield will be on itself. Large swaths of the planet that used to look to the West for assistance and guidance are being diligently worked on by China and very soon they will be the ones with the greatest influence in these regions.
The rise of China could create a new Cold War. If that is the case then the US is already well on its way to losing that war with the actions and decisions of the current Administration.
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