China Versus the US: Kishore Mahbubani on a Zero-Sum Rivalry
Beyond this week’s talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, there’s an epic tale that has been unfolding for decades. It’s a battle to be the world’s number one power and a much bigger story than the latest meeting of these two men.
In recent years, the relationship between China and the United States has increasingly been framed as a rivalry. Both nations are vying for global influence and leadership, each pursuing its interests on the international stage. While meetings between leaders like Xi Jinping and Donald Trump draw media attention, they are only the surface of a much deeper struggle shaping the future of the world.
Kishore Mahbubani, a prominent academic and former diplomat, has often discussed the nature of this competition. He emphasizes that the rivalry is not just about economics or military might, but also about ideology, governance, and perceptions of national destiny. Both the US and China see themselves as exceptional nations with unique roles to play, but their visions for global leadership differ dramatically.
Mahbubani argues that the US views its position as the world’s “indispensable nation”—a country that believes it should lead the international system, promote democracy, and maintain global security. China, on the other hand, has risen rapidly, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty and asserting its own model of development. Its government prioritizes stability, economic growth, and the restoration of its historical role as a leading civilization.
This situation sets up a classic “zero-sum rivalry,” where one country’s gain is often seen as another’s loss. Both sides worry that any success by the other threatens their own status and interests. In a zero-sum mindset, cooperation becomes difficult, and competition intensifies across diplomatic, technological, and military arenas.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Mahbubani has suggested that a new kind of thinking is needed. The world is now so interconnected that cooperation, rather than pure competition, may be the only way forward. The global economy, climate change, pandemics, and other transnational challenges require joint action, not just rivalry. Still, mutual suspicion and historical grievances make dialogue hard.
The story of US-China relations is not just about two powers, but about the rest of the world as well. Many countries feel caught in the middle, forced to balance relations with both sides. Their choices will shape the emerging world order, even as the US and China continue their complex dance on the global stage.
