In the International Herald Tribune, Howard French analogizes the recent Federer-Nadal Wimbledon match to the emerging competition between China and the U.S. on the world stage:
China’s rise is mostly an immense good news story for the improving fortunes of its giant population, and therefore for humanity. One must hedge, only because the environmental consequences are far from being worked out, and because the purposes to which China’s newfound national power will be put are still unclear.
China has long measured itself against the United States and has improved itself in many ways as a consequence. Increasingly now, as it gains momentum, the shoe will be put on the other foot. For both countries, the challenge will be resisting the winning-is-everything mentality and learning to bring out the best in each other by bringing out the best in themselves.
