Yeah, maybe.
I remember back in the 1980s when we thought the USSR was going to eat our lunch (militarily and politically). Then they collapsed. Ditto Japan in the early 1990s.
I’ve been to China. Yes, lots of new construction. However, except for a few high profile projects, most of it shoddy.
The Russians, Chinese and Indians have people who are very, very smart. But the problem is that their countries are fundamentally corrupt.
On the other hand, we in the US often shoot ourselves in the foot. I don’t blame people for thinking we are “mildly retarded”. Yet, it seems to work. The Germans are also very smart, but they seem intent on national suicide even more than we are.
“But the problem is that their countries are fundamentally corrupt.”
Glad we don’t have that problem