Here’s a comprehensive and well-organized collection of studies, statistics, and expert analyses on China’s rivalry with the United States, its areas of superiority, future prospects for global leadership, and the strategic responses from Washington. Each entry includes a title and direct link to the source.
1. China and Its Economic and Military Rival, the United States
- United States and China in the 21st Century
Pressenza
Explores the structural rivalry across trade, technology, and military domains, with both nations accounting for 42% of global GDP and 50% of military spending. - Strategic Rivalry Between United States and China
SWP Berlin
Analyzes the strategic competition shaping global politics, especially in the Indo-Pacific and technological sectors. - Southeast Asia Amid the US–China Rift
MSN News
Details how regional powers are navigating the growing tension between Washington and Beijing.
2. How China Is Outperforming the United States
- How China Is Outperforming the United States in Critical Technologies
ITIF
China leads in 57 of 64 critical technologies, including quantum communication, robotics, and biotech, according to ASPI’s global tracker. - Why China Is Currently Winning Against the US
Washington Morning
Highlights China’s dominance in trade, 5G, green tech, and military modernization, while the U.S. struggles with internal divisions.
3. Most Prominent Areas Where China Is Superior to the United States
- Comparison of China and United States Military Strengths (2025)
Global Firepower
China leads in manpower, naval fleet size, and hypersonic weapons, while the U.S. retains airpower and budget superiority. - U.S. vs. China: Which Country Is the World’s #1 Superpower?
Visual Capitalist
China scores higher in competitiveness and trade, while the U.S. leads in education, finance, and reserve currency status.
4. Will the Future Belong to China?
- Can China Surpass the US as the World’s Leading Power?
Invezz
Argues that despite scale, China’s debt, aging population, and weak consumer demand may prevent it from overtaking the U.S. - Decoding China: How Xi Aims to Overtake US as a Superpower
Deutsche Welle
Examines China’s global ambitions through military parades, Belt and Road diplomacy, and the export of the “China model.” - China’s Emergence as a Superpower
CSIS
Graphic comparison of China’s rise in civil and military power relative to the U.S. and other global players.
5. What Will the World Look Like Under Chinese Hegemony?
- Unraveling China’s Grand Strategy: Its Aim Is to Erode U.S. Global Hegemony
Institute for Peace and Diplomacy
China seeks a multipolar world order, not outright domination, using multi-alignment and economic leverage to dilute U.S. influence. - Decoding China: How Xi Aims to Export the China Model
Deutsche Welle
Details how China’s infrastructure diplomacy and authoritarian governance appeal to parts of the Global South.
6. What Is the United States Doing to Prevent Chinese Hegemony?
- Pentagon Plan Prioritizes Homeland Over China Threat
Politico
The new U.S. defense strategy shifts focus to domestic security, while still deploying assets to counter China’s influence. - A Strategy of Denial for the Western Pacific
US Naval Institute
Advocates for a coalition-based denial strategy to prevent Chinese dominance in Asia, with Taiwan as a strategic linchpin. - Unraveling China’s Grand Strategy
Institute for Peace and Diplomacy
Recommends a balanced U.S. approach combining “blunting” and “balancing” rather than full containment.
Here’s a curated list of documentaries that explore China’s strategic rivalry with the United States, its technological and economic rise, future global ambitions, and Washington’s evolving response. These films offer deep insights into the geopolitical chessboard shaping the 21st century.
🎥 1. The China Hustle (2017)
Director: Jed Rothstein
Overview: Investigates fraudulent Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges and the lack of regulatory oversight. It highlights vulnerabilities in U.S. financial systems and China’s aggressive economic tactics.
🔗 IMDb – The China Hustle
🎥 2. American Factory (2019)
Directors: Steven Bognar & Julia Reichert
Overview: Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, this Oscar-winning documentary follows a Chinese company reopening a factory in Ohio. It explores cultural clashes, labor tensions, and China’s expanding industrial footprint in the U.S.
🔗 Netflix – American Factory
🎥 3. China: Power and Prosperity – PBS Frontline (2020)
Produced by: PBS Frontline
Overview: A comprehensive look at China’s rise under Xi Jinping, covering surveillance, trade, military expansion, and its rivalry with the U.S. Includes expert interviews and on-the-ground reporting.
🔗 Watch on PBS Frontline
🎥 4. The Coming War on China (2016)
Director: John Pilger
Overview: A provocative documentary warning of escalating military tensions between the U.S. and China. It examines U.S. bases in the Pacific and China’s response through military modernization and diplomacy.
🔗 IMDb – The Coming War on China
🎥 5. Inside China’s Surveillance State – VICE News (2021)
Produced by: VICE News
Overview: Explores China’s use of AI and facial recognition to control its population, and how these technologies are being exported globally. It raises questions about digital authoritarianism and U.S. tech competition.
🔗 Watch on YouTube
🎥 6. China vs USA: Empires at War – DW Documentary (2023)
Produced by: Deutsche Welle
Overview: A detailed analysis of the economic and military rivalry between the two superpowers, including trade wars, semiconductor battles, and strategic influence in Africa and Asia.
🔗 Watch on DW Documentary
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