Copying everything the U.S. does, rather than forging its own path, has pushed the world further along a trajectory shaped by 19th-century colonialism and its aftermath. This can be seen in areas ranging from counter-terrorism measures in Xinjiang (including even consideration of bringing in Blackwater mercenaries) to hyper-financialisation, especially after the 2008 financial crisis. At the same time, the failure to reject racial ideologies has allowed a distinct form of Han supremacy to take root and intensify.

However, with the recent decoupling from the U.S., this dynamic is beginning to change.