US quietly plays the long game on energy dominance against China

The United States appears to be employing a patient, long-term strategy to secure its global economic dominance, particularly in relation to China. This approach, potentially rooted in the "grand strategy" principles of Sun Tzu, emphasizes "subduing the enemy without fighting" by subtly reshaping the global economy to bolster long-term U.S. power.

This strategy focuses on "positional power", control over critical economic systems. This includes dominance in computational power through semiconductors, resource power derived from rare earths and energy, and connectivity power via shipping and maritime chokepoints. China has spent decades accumulating similar power, dominating segments of global industrial production and mineral processing.

While past actions, such as former President Trump's trade ceasefire following China's retaliatory rare earths restrictions, might seem reactive, recent U.S. military interventions and geopolitical realignments suggest a more deliberate strategy. These moves appear designed to press upon China's economic vulnerabilities.

The U.S. National Security Strategy for 2025 underscores the logic of "hemispheric consolidation and resource security." Events in Venezuela, which supplies discounted oil to China, and the strategic importance of Panama's maritime chokepoints, Greenland's Arctic routes, and Iran's Strait of Hormuz, are all viewed through this lens. These actions signal to the Western Hemisphere that China may not intervene to protect nations facing U.S. ultimatums, while simultaneously reinforcing U.S. control over vital global trade arteries.

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fighting and winning all your battles is not the height of skill; subduing the enemy without fighting is the height of skill