US-China conflict doesn’t have to become a self-fulfilling prophecy
Por David Gorombolyi — South China Morning Post – News feed
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Opinion David Gorombolyi US-China conflict doesn’t have to become a self-fulfilling prophecy
Power shifts are dangerous, but their outcomes are not predetermined. The US and China have every opportunity to avoid conflict
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David Gorombolyi David Gorombolyi is a lecturer, ex-diplomat and writer. Published: 8:30pm, 30 Sep 2026
We are reminded seemingly daily of the great power transitions that ended in conflict. However, it is the exceptions – the ones that did not result in war – that could have real lessons to offer.
Today, the question is more than academic. Standing beside US President Donald Trump at the White House last week, President Xi Jinping proposed that competition between China and the United States should be “a race of catching up with one another”, not “a wrestle where one either wins or loses”. Whether these metaphors survive the real disputes between the two countries on trade, technology or political red lines is another matter. Could the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation really go hand in hand with making America great again? Select Voice Select Speed 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.5x 1.75x 00:00 00:00 1x AI-generated voice
