In a commentary article, Peng Guangqian, Deputy Secretary General of the China National Security Forum, stated that America’s dominance is in decline and is in the stage of “menopause.” Below is an excerpt from the article:
“Not long ago, the U.S. Senate and the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing to examine the security challenges that the United States faces in the world. In the hearing, ‘Chinese military threat’ became the ‘keyword’ and was used with the highest frequency. America, which has always regarded itself as unbeatable, now has many senior officials and generals expressing their ‘shock’ at the progress of China’s military modernization and their ‘fear’ of losing the United States’ absolute military superiority. Aside from the mentality of American politicians that ‘unless you are the same race (as us), your heart will always be different,’ the United States really seems to be less powerful than it once was.”
“History tells us that on the eve of hegemonic decline, when it is declining but not yet completely down, it is precisely at a stage where it is the most vulnerable, the most sensitive, and the most likely to lose its sense of mind. Compared to the past, America’s voice, when talking today, is getting louder and louder, which is precisely a manifestation of its inner anxiety, nervousness, and lack of self-confidence. It is a reflection of hegemony menopause. Obama said the United States ‘will never be in second position.’ This shows precisely that the U.S. is anxiously realizing the real possibility of becoming ‘second.’ In this particular sensitive time, the probability that the United States will have some irrational reactions is greatly increased.”
“After all, the United States has the world’s largest super war machine and is a superpower with international influence. Once the United States loses its mind, once the decline of American hegemony is out of control, it is, of course, a disaster for the United States itself, and it will not be a good thing for the world either. Therefore, we must be especially vigilant about the direction in which the U.S. is heading.
Source: Xinhua, February 26, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2015-02/26/c_127519734_2.htm