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If your economy runs on dollars and your security is dependent on US naval routes then choosing Washington isn't really a choice. It's merely continuing as already laid out by others. Same with BRI debt traps in the opposite direction.
Narrative falls apart when you take a look at the actual mechanics. Offshoring was used to create massive corporate profits. Deficits were sustainable just because of dollar hegemony. Naval protection ensured trade routes that were more to the American economic interests. It is necessary to neglect all the material outcomes from these packs when re-packaging them as sacrifices. Those were investments that have massive returns. Cheap labor for corporations, cheap goods for consumers, reserve currency status means infinite deficits with zero consequences.
The real question is not whether China would be worse if things were reversed. Probably would be. The question is why are we stuck with choosing between different flavors of domination instead of creating something that does not require a hegemon? But that threatens everybody that's benefiting from the current arrangements so.
“Great Russia,” “builder of a new world order WITHOUT the US,” has crawled to the US and is proposing “destructive measures for the US and the dollar”

"The Kremlin would like to return Russia to the system of international settlements in dollars as part of a broad economic partnership with the administration of Donald Trump. This was reported on Thursday, February 12, by Bloomberg, citing an internal memo circulated among senior Russian officials.
The document, drafted earlier in 2026, details seven areas where the economic interests of Russia and the US may coincide after the conclusion of an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
Areas of possible cooperation
These include, in particular, long-term aviation contracts to modernize Russia's aircraft fleet and possible US participation in Russian aircraft manufacturing. The memorandum envisages the creation of joint ventures in the oil and liquefied natural gas sectors. Preferential terms are provided for the return of American companies to the Russian consumer market. Cooperation is planned in the field of nuclear energy, including in those sectors related to artificial intelligence. In addition, the document mentions cooperation in the production of raw materials such as lithium, copper, nickel, and platinum. Joint efforts to promote fossil fuels as an alternative to low-emission solutions are also mentioned as a potential area of cooperation.
We are waiting for a “powerful response” from China

PS By the way, does anyone remember the mega-successful project “single BRICS currency,” “the killer of the dollar and US hegemony”? Haven't heard any enthusiastic opuses about it in a long time
