China is not the number one superpower.
Economically, it's debatable but anyone who has looked a corporate financials will tell you it's not that cut and dry.
Militarily, China can't fukk with the US...but it's not that kind of world anymore. Let's stop arguing about this it's not even close.
China is in Africa for their resources because they realize they are too dependent on outside countries for their income. American rhetoric about offshoring and outsourcing has Chinese amongst other manufacturing nations nervous about the repatriation of those jobs, which would spell game over for a nation like China who does not create anything, who does not have the resources domestically to sustain itself...which is why it is building ties with Africa.
Here's the x-factor no one talks about...if foreign countries tried to cash in US debt and get rid of our dollars, the US could still sustain itself because of the vast resources, infrastructure, and companies that are here locally...yeah the prices of goods would soar, but we could buy, sell, and trade within our own country. China can't do that because they don't have the GDP per capita, innovative companies, or the resources to sustain itself.
I work in manufacturing and supply chain, I've helped set up plants and warehouses, it really would not take long for those jobs to come back here if US companies wanted them to.
The problem the US has and why it continues on a slow slide that will see the BRICs eventually on par with us because everything in regards to the economy and money is based on perception. Perception is why so many countries invest in the US bonds and treasuries. Perception is giving us a slow death that will eventually see us slide, but none of the BRICs will ever see or have the power and influence the USA had...
Its why countries like China who people in this thread think is ahead of the USA by virtually worthless properties in Detroit. Because even the Chinese still believe in America's power economically.