This book explores the intense strategic deadlock between the U.S. and China, analyzing why American efforts to contain China’s rise have reached a critical impasse. It offers a clear and timely analysis of the asymmetric competition between a fragmented democracy and a centralized authoritarian power, China’s long‑term strategy, and the structural limits of American policy, making this book essential reading for anyone interested in international relations, global security, and China’s growing influence. 

The text opens by examining American strategic miscalculations and the foundations of China’s global confidence within the evolving dynamics of U.S.–China relations. It then moves through a detailed progression of China’s persistent global ambitions guided by a "whole‑of‑society" strategy, including the advantages of long‑term centralized planning and its own "Monroe Doctrine." Later chapters investigate the expansion of Chinese influence through China’s modern Marshall Plan (BRI), science diplomacy, and the use of both soft and sharp power, including China’s official narratives, "Wolf Warrior" diplomacy, and long-arm jurisdiction, to shape the international system. It also addresses the risks surrounding Taiwan as a potential “collapse trap” in the rivalry. The conclusion calls for a reset in U.S.–China strategic goals to avoid escalation and support peaceful coexistence.

Jinghao Zhou is Associate Professor of Asian Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, specializing in contemporary China and U.S.-China relations. He is the author of six books on Chinese politics, ideology, and international relations, including Great Power Competition as the New Normal of China-U.S. Relations (2023) and Why Is the China Model Losing Its Power? (2020). He has published more than sixty English‑language articles and over forty pieces in Chinese journals and newspapers.