If China’s economic growth continues at its current pace, the republic will become the lead economic power within the next 20 years, outpacing the U.S., a new study by the National Intelligence Council predicts.
But the study also says China will not overtake the U.S. as the global hegemon. The era of the “one nation to rule them all” mentality will end: for the first time since WWII the U.S. will belong to a multi-polar world.
The study goes on to suggest that a growing political partnership between the U.S. and China will be essential in ensuring global security. China’s military will increase alongside its economy and the U.S. will be forced to relinquish some of its power as the world’s largest military force. It will be up to the U.S. and China to work collaboratively to prevent imminent global disasters.