The United States has officially become a third-rate power.

It was very clear many years ago, but the full weight of the fact is only now becoming obvious to most people.<br><br>Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, the US was the hegemonic power, with no rival in sight. Then, the rise of China started to become obvious to all. The US kept arguing that China was a second-rate power behind the US, and that the US and China were the only two world superpowers.<br><br>However, about five years ago it became obvious that China was gaining on the US. Trump's election was one sign, but the real proof was the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did the rest of the world absolutely screw up COVID, but the US performed about as badly as anyone. The rest of the world then saw that China had become the largest, and essentially the only, global power.<br><br>Since then, everyone worldwide has come to realize that China is the greatest world power. The US, however, still insists that China is a second-rate power behind the US, and that the US and China are the only two world superpowers.<br><br>This is no longer true, if it ever was. China is the first-rate power, and the US is third-rate and below, along with everyone else.<br><br>The US still has an impressive military, and the dollar is still essentially the world currency. But these facts do not matter. China has taken over economically, culturally, and in every other aspect, and China has become the first and only global superpower.<br><br>China is the first non-European civilization to dominate the world. This marks the end of the European period of global hegemony that started in the 1500s. All the European powers, including the US, have been outdone by China. This is a new era "of the Asians" and the Europeans are mere vassals.