This is real and a danger. China is much more directly authoritarian and oppressive than America ever was or can be. The Trump administration is bad but it’s one administration. China’s centralized control, strategy of using loans and BRI as international leverage, of annexing Tibet / Taiwan / getting into other border skirmishes, using censorship / coercion / force to control its citizens, etc will continue indefinitely. Unless the CCP is replaced.
If Americans become disillusioned with their own country’s economic opportunities or whatever else, they will indeed view China as less of a threat. And that will lead to China ultimately becoming the new superpower replacing the American hegemony. I doubt that’s actually better for the world. The fix is for America to become more fair, to put an end to the idea of megacorps and billionaires, and to revive its fundamental liberal values. Otherwise we can expect young people to continue being disillusioned.
