The U.S. has picked a fight it can't win in the long term. Already, China is focused on eliminating its vulnerability to this sort of pressure - developing its own computer chips and aircraft, for instance. All the U.S. has really accomplished is to show China that it cannot be depended upon as a trading partner. Its industry will pay the price in the future, as China tries to limit its vulnerability by avoiding any U.S. inputs.



China will be a much bigger economy than the U.S. in a few years. The U.S. is going to need to learn to survive without being the world's dominant power. It requires doing things differently - you can't buy safety by having the biggest military; you have to learn how to compromise and form friendships so people are less likely to attack. You have to learn to look for win-win situations, rather than imposing your will on others through economic domination.



My fear is that the U.S. is so used to being able to force its will on others that it will be unable to learn these lessons.