The official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party has launched a scathing critique of current United States foreign policy, characterizing joint military operations with Israel against Iran as evidence of a “predatory hegemony.” The commentary, published under the pseudonym ‘Zhong Sheng’ in the People’s Daily, warns of an accelerating global decline.
Beijing argues that American foreign policy has shifted from being a builder of international order to a rule-violator, now operating under a harsh “law of the jungle” mentality. The article asserts that Washington’s current strategy is driven by anxiety over its relative decline, treating both allies and adversaries as entities to be exploited for national gain.
Citing World Bank data, the text highlights that the U.S. share of global GDP has dropped precipitously from approximately 40 percent in 1960 to 25 percent by 2023. This economic shift, according to the Chinese analysis, occurs alongside the rise of the Global South, rendering American attempts to maintain dominance increasingly out of touch with reality.
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The piece utilizes the concept of “predatory hegemony,” popularized by scholar Stephen Walt, to argue that this approach systematically erodes American credibility and alienates key allies. It references a Gallup poll claiming U.S. approval ratings dropped by more than 10 percent in 44 countries during 2025 as nations seek alternatives to American influence.
Turning to the conflict with Iran, the article notes that the military offensive launched on February 28 has created a costly stalemate. Chinese analysts observe that the failure of NATO allies to fully support these attacks, coupled with economic disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, serves as a clear indicator of Washington’s weakening geopolitical standing.
Concluding its argument, the commentary suggests that the U.S. is effectively presiding over its own marginalization. By ignoring the rise of a multipolar world, the text contends that the United States will ultimately become poorer and less secure, as its aggressive foreign policy ironically plants the seeds of its own long-term global decline.
