No. I guess it’s a matter of degree but my memory of the 90s, 00s and even early 2010s the middle east and North Korea both received far more attention from the press and politicians than China. China seemed to be on a trajectory towards a free market and less repressive government. I don’t feel like the current “cold war” esque situation set in until the late 2010s but maybe I’m wrong? What’s your take?

It's been a gradual shift with rising and falling tensions and various flare-ups, but if I had to pick a date I would pin it to around 2012, when Xi Jinping became the leader of China and began taking a more hardline stance.

You are so very wrong.

Just one example around free market: China's private sector has lost ground as state sector has gained share among top corporations since 2021 https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/2024/chinas-privat...

2021 is not recent for you?

I'm responding to "China seemed to be on a trajectory towards a free market and less repressive government"

I thought the point being made was that this trajectory has been reversed recently.

You're right it's definitely a matter of degree. And I would have to say early 2000 when Clinton signed the trade agreement with them. That is when our manufacturing capacity started moving to China and with that our security. It's of course way more complex than that but..

timing is important

China is always a 'security threat' to the US since 1946, but it never get a high priority untill now

- 1946-1991 Cold War with Soviet - 2001-2017 Global War on Terror in MiddleEast - 2018-now Trade War and Chip War with China

I highly doubt the memory capacity of americans, it seems like americans can only remember things that are "present"

it's just like the meme

1. Remove the chip 2. Overwrite Iraq -> China 3. Insert the chip click 4. "China is our destined enemy"

> China is always a 'security threat' to the US

Only because its been recently revealed that everyone is a security threat to the US.