Elbridge Colby Quoted in Nikkei Asia

A new reality is forcing US foreign policy to make fundamental changes.

China is becoming so powerful that it can question America’s global supremacy – not in the abstract, but in its ability to shape the world in which we live: the terms of trade, the distribution of economic power and wealth, the promotion or abstraction of political systems and much more. While the US must continue to grapple with other issues, such as international terrorism or the threat of future pandemics, its focus must be on managing the aftermath of China’s rise. It follows that the US must set priorities. With small changes or a “business as usual” they will not succeed. On the contrary: almost everything that the US does has to subordinate itself to the dispute with China.

Above all, Washington will have to ensure that Beijing does not succeed in becoming the hegemonic power of Asia, for two reasons: First, because of the size and growth curve of its economy, Asia is the most important region in the world – almost half of world GDP earned here. On the other hand, China is simply the most promising candidate for the hegemon of this key region in the world. China generates around half of Asia’s GDP. If it rules Asia, it can set the policies, rules, and trading conditions for about half of the world’s GDP. This would allow him a dominant influence over the United States, not to mention Europe.

Nikkei Asia