Americans have been living in denial for decades. So many of them honestly believe that they live in the greatest country on earth. This, despite having no universal healthcare, few protections for workers, little time off, low wages, crumbling infrastructure, antiquated transportation and vast economic inequality.

They often like to portray China as either a backwater or as an existential threat. Most of this comes from the millions of Americans who have never once left their own state, let alone country.

But if they opened their eyes and stopped believing the propaganda, they would see a stark reality. The American Empire is in steep decline. It has been for decades. And during this time, China has risen.

Today, China is rapidly building modern cities with stunning architecture and efficient transportation. It is leading the world in technology and engineering. Its vast landmass is crisscrossed by high speed trains, enabling people to get from one side to the other in mere hours.

No other imperial state on the planet compares with China. Not Russia. Not the United States.

This is not to say there aren’t serious human rights concerns. There are. And it not to say there isn’t poverty in China. There is. But the country has been able to lift 800 million people out of poverty in a record short time. It has a huge middle class who work, study and travel.

Meanwhile, America slides further behind. And this is partly due to its arrogance and willful ignorance.

Most Americans have not yet fully realized that China is not their adversary. Their own ruling class is.

Kenn Maurice Orfanos, January 2026