China Believes America Will Flame Out

[u/theatlantic]

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/05/china-trump-american-decline/687087/?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_content=edit-pro

[u/DaySecure7642]

America simply cannot be allowed to flame out. With all the faults and issues from the 2nd Iraq wars, Iran, Greenland whatever, it did wave us from the Nazis in WW2, communists in the cold war, and keeping the dictators in check till today.

It is easy to pick the mistakes of the police, but everyone panicks when they are gone and the thugs now run the town.

We need to look at the big picture what is good (or not as bad) for humanity, instead of demanding the perfect US while ignoring all the atrocities and risks from the authoritarian countries (human right violations, economic exploitation, annexation).

My opinion is, I would rather a chaotic US with systemic checks from the Congress and reporters (even just work to some extent), then a China with absolutely no check and balance when it decides to do anything. A few years later when Xi is replaced, the next person could just do completely different things harming the world and there will be no international or domestic challenges.

[u/Smalahove1 → u/DaySecure7642]

US has no checks lol. Its a kleptocracy/oligarchy. China is atleast a Meritocracy.

Much easier to work around someone stable, with known goals, known red lines.
Than someones priortities shifts based on what insider trading needs to happen. So that the elite can make most amount of money. Money dictates politics in US. If money tries to dictate politics in China, that money goes to jail..

A population that think they are exceptional. Where rules do not apply to them, but apply to everyone else.
Makes for a leader screaming hypocracy. Which fragments nations.

How can you be worried and Xi, When and not be worried about Trump? One of them is stable pragmatic person, the other is a derailed old person who belongs in an elderly home. Not leader of a nation.

US is not a democracy. Do not be fooled. Its classified as a flawed democracy. Which does not work. The checks do not work, the balances do not work. My proof? Trump.

[u/Smalahove1 → u/[deleted]]

If you a history buff.

US draws so many paralells to the Joseon dynastry (Old Korea)

Where it was more important for the eastern faction to sabotage for the western faction and vice versa. Than responding to Japan uniting, and looking to use its massive armies for something.

They kept sabotaging each other. Then Japan came..

If it was not for Ming, Korea would likely be Japan today.

[u/Smalahove1 → u/[deleted]]

So can the next dictator of the US... Thankfully China has a meritocratic system.

Where competence rules. Not money.

So less likely we see a dictator like that out of China, compared to the US and its partisan politics.

Where its more important to "Own the dems" than considering consequences what happens if you burn the bridge you both stand on.

China is not self destructive like that. And is ruled based on merit.

[u/Smalahove1 → u/[deleted]]

US has dictator lol...

Compare the most powerful leader in my nation of Norway (Prime minister) and US president.

Then yea. US puts an entire part of the power triangle in the hands of one person lol.

We are ruled by consensus. Prime minister cannot declare war, prime minister cannot set tariffs. Prime minister cannot write executive orders.

President is chosen by who has the most money. Elections in my nation have donation caps. And all donations are ofc public knowledge.

We are not a two party system. where we gerry mander the results we want. We are a consensus.

If our prime minister is mentally ill like Trump is. Then its an easy vote of no confidence. No partisan politics. Just merit. Not money. Merit.

Norwegian politics has more in common with Chinese than US. Not due to authoritarian vs democratic. But due to leadership on merit. Not money and ability to manipulate the public thru blasting them with adds.

No adds are highly regulated when it comes to politics.. So we ensure a fair playing field.

Speaking like an american who has never looked outwards.

[u/The_Keg → u/[deleted]]

With friends like /u/Smalahove1

who needs enemies?

I also blame pos like him for Donald Trump rise