‘Second fiddle’ fantasy? Sorry, Beijing – US and India won’t settle for silver

A new narrative suggests China will lead, with the US and India vying for second. Analyst Keji Mao argues US “strategic altruism” towards India has ended due to American decline anxiety. However, the article counters that US decline is exaggerated, China’s economic rise faces headwinds, and India is forging an independent path, leading to a complex, contested global order.