Can You Handle the Truth? China versus the U.S. - Who is the Real Power - Who Will be THE Super Power Soon?

I found this opinion article in China Daily, which I go to everyday.  There is an opinion piece on the website today, which puts lots into perspective of who is really becoming the leader/super power of the world.

The Chinese know they are going to be surpassing the U.S. very soon in becoming THE Super Power of the world.  With the U.S. in different wars and basically bankrupt, education going by the way side, with manufacturing going out the window to other countries, thus the jobless rate is in reality around 22%, and the debt surpassing GDP, is there any doubt who is becoming the strength of the world?

This opinion piece is a China versus the United States, but only read it if you are willing to look at reality without rose colored glasses on, regarding the United States situation.

Portions:

The United State of America, the only remaining superpower, has declined significantly due to the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression. It is faced with more challenges in Afghanistan and other parts of the world. Its national debt has reached up to fourteen trillion dollars, equaling the size of its GDP. The US unemployment rate remains high. Many state and local governments are faced with budget shortfalls, and have been forced to cut their spending on education and other benefits to citizens.

China, on the other hand, has become more and more robust - both comprehensively and economically - during the last few decades. Despite the doomsayers' continuous predictions about China's potential downfall, China has stood out as a rare success story in the world.

It has surpassed Japan to become the second-largest economy in the world, and it has surpassed Germany to become the world’s biggest exporter of goods. Last year, China also acquired the honor of producing the world’s fastest computer. More recently, China has changed its typical practices by publicly acknowledging that it has developed a new stealth fighter jet which could supposedly threaten US carriers.

More importantly, Chinese students in Shanghai performed best on an exam administered by the OECD. Education has always been an important indicator about the future direction of a nation, because it is about the training of future generations.

As the most populous nation in the world, China has the manpower. Chinese society is very well-organized. Even though China's social organization is no longer as effective as in its old days, it still enjoys tremendous advantage over that of the United States.

The lack of grassroots coherence in the United States was cruelly revealed when Katrina hit New Orleans. There were no organization and no order when disaster fell on that city. The US Army and National Guards had to move in - with full battleground gear - to maintain order.

China also has the longest recorded history in the world, with a twenty-two-hundred-year tradition of being a unitary state. This tradition and culture of a unitary state (da yi tong—big, united and oneness) is often misunderstood by non-Chinese people. However, it is exceptionally effective and efficient.

China led the world in science and technology until 1500. The Chinese economy was the world’s biggest economy until 1850. China maintained a monopoly on silk, porcelain production, and tea for a very long period of history. In today’s world of innovation and invention, Chinese people are doing well in catching up with the more developed western world.

It is natural for the American people to feel surprised by China’s advances. The US has enjoyed being “number one” in the world for a long time, and the country has reaped many benefits from that position. If they were to lose that position, they would not be able to continue living the lifestyle to which they are accustomed. In this environment, it is not unlikely that some US leaders would advocate using military power to start a war in order to prevent China from catching up.

That was why I, like many other peace-loving people in the world, became very worried when the US, South Korea, and Japan held frequent navy exercises close to China’s sovereign waters. At one point, three US carriers gathered outside Chinese territory waters. I consider it a great diplomatic victory for China as it has successfully defused the military tension in its vicinity.