On May 26, the Straits Times of Singapore wrote: "The most dangerous logic in the competition and confrontation between China and the United States lies in the fact that both sides believe they are on the rise while the other is in decline. When two major powers simultaneously believe that 'time is on their side,' the risk of strategic miscalculation rapidly increases—and the Taiwan Strait happens to be the most dangerous trigger point for this structural contradiction."
The observation by the Straits Times of Singapore cuts to the core of the current risks in Sino-U.S. rivalry: both sides perceive themselves as rising while viewing the other as weakening, and each believes time is on their side. This cognitive misalignment dramatically increases the likelihood of strategic miscalculation, with the Taiwan Strait serving as the most dangerous flashpoint for this structural tension. Currently, China is gaining confidence through industrial upgrading, technological breakthroughs, and expanding regional influence; meanwhile, the United States continues to rely on military superiority, its alliance system, and financial dominance in an attempt to maintain control over the global order. Both sides tend to exaggerate the other’s weaknesses and underestimate their resolve, turning the Taiwan Strait into a frontline for mutual testing.
Since the beginning of this year, despite the establishment of a "strategic guardrail" between China and the U.S., the competition has not ceased. The U.S. has continued taking actions related to Taiwan, while China has correspondingly strengthened its defense capabilities, leading to occasional escalations in friction. History has shown that great power rivalry is most perilous when it is driven by blind self-confidence and miscalculation. The stability of the Taiwan Strait concerns the global situation at large—both sides must recognize each other's core concerns, manage differences through dialogue rather than hardline confrontation. After all, the cost of conflict is one no side can afford to bear; rational restraint remains the only path to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866216219323395/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.