Includes index.

The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead -- China's environmental smokescreen -- Peak oil has arrived--and peak coal isn't far behind -- Blind to copper realities -- Rare earth elements are getting rarer--and China has them -- Other critical commodities and China's global land grab -- The rise of resource nationalism -- Why dealing with declining resources is easier for China -- The limits of Western democracy in dealing with critical problems : Tiananmen Square versus 9/11 -- Responses to the financial crisis of 2008 -- The other critical metal : gold -- China's additional strengths -- Potential pitfalls : China's infrastructure, food, and water -- A message for America from Confucius.

A disturbing look at the growing political, economic, and social power of China and the threat that nation poses to the Western world, this book lays out how the Chinese are strategizing to overtake the United States as the world's premier economic power--and details how our failure to respond quickly will result in a permanently lower standard of living for Americans.--From publisher description.