(01-24-2017, 12:28 PM)SomeGuy Wrote: Personally, I would rather the US abandon its efforts at hegemony, cut what deals it needs to preserve its most important geopolitical interests, maintain a military for defensive purposes only, and focus on rebuilding its infrastructure and industry, but I am not sure that there is enough political support for all of that in Congress. We may have to muddle through a while longer.
I don't think there is any advantage to hegemony anymore. Hegemony worked for the Brits. They used it to become the leading economy in 1850. Hegemony worked a lot worse for the US. We already were the leading economy before we became hegemon. Only the first fifth of the cycle can be interpreted as positive. Since 1965 its all been downhill.
I doubt China is going to want to take a bite of this shit sandwich. China's elites are not as comfortably in power as America's. They cannot afford the sort of stupid policy Americans pursue. So if Trump decides to make the Spratley Islands a bone of contention, the Chinese have a variety of responses available beside all-out war. I think they will make a well-considered choice.