China has not been the only or even the most vociferous critic of what Germany’s influential daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung described as the “political bankruptcy” of the United States, highlighted by the recent destructive brinkmanship between Republicans and Democrats.
China views Washington’s travails holistically — as interdependent elements of a system of US international management and leadership. Seen in this detached and cold-eyed fashion, US shortcomings on the economic, political or strategic fronts are not easily dismissed — as Secretary of State John Kerry did — as “a moment of political silliness” in what is otherwise a healthy and self-confident American international leadership.
