The United States remains the world’s largest economy, with far and away the world’s biggest military footprint. But despite Washington's best efforts, the United States continues to suffer relative economic decline against its competitors, particularly China. In 1980, China’s economy was 10.6 percent of the size of the U.S. economy; today, the figure has risen to 63.8 percent. U.S. policy is to ensure that it remains the unchallenged hegemon world affairs. As China’s economic power rises, and it begins to shape a regional military strategy, what impact does this have on the current power relations in the world? At what point will China’s rise as a global economic power begin to put pressure on the current configuration of world power, still dominated, albeit with less certainty, by the U.S.?