Commentary
There have arisen lately two rather interesting and contending schools of thought concerning China’s future as a great power. One says that China has reached its peak and is already settling into a slow process of possibly irrevocable decline. The other school takes the opposite stance, arguing that China’s rise is continuing and has not yet reached its prime.
A far more compelling argument, however, is that neither trend, even if true, really matters much in the long run, especially when it comes to China and global stability. What is more important is how Beijing perceives itself compared to other great powers, especially the United States. In particular, if China continues to see itself as the injured party in global affairs, it may act irresponsibly whether or not it is objectively rising or falling….