Abstract
That China is slated to become a twenty-first century superpoweris increasingly accepted by specialists, policy makers, and pundits alike. These observers postulate, on this basis, that China must be confronted and a new Cold War (some even predict a hot war) is inevitable between the United States and China. Global policy makers are accordingly formulating policies that will shape and condition China’s behavior in a direction that is benign, cooperative, and favorable to regional stability. Against this backdrop, a robust policy debate has erupted in the United States over how best to deal with an ascendant China. Contrary to those who argue that China seeks and can attain hegemony over Asia, this article questions the core assumption and argues that even if China did have such an intention, it will not have the capability to do so for at least 25 years.
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