What do you think the big global challenges of the 2020s will be?
Extreme weather events brought on by climate change will be something nations have to deal with.
Likewise, economic recovery following the pandemic is going to be a priority for pretty much every nation on the planet.
Finally, many countries will continue to struggle with their changing cultural identities as political divides worsen and unrest becomes more common.
But even with these issues at the forefront, countries all over will still have to confront international rivalries. It's always been that way, with only the source of the perceived threats changing over time.
And if a recent report is anything to go by, the 2020s will be the decade of the world versus China.
Recently, NATO published a report that categorizes China as a strategic focal point after highlighting the geopolitical threats that it poses. NATO wants to devote more resources to addressing the security challenges that the country presents. After assessing the country's capabilities, economic strength, and ideological goals, NATO has determined that China will be of growing importance through 2030.
This all echoes what we've been seeing for the past few years. We've talked at length in these pages about how China has been trying to assert its dominance in a number of areas. Yes, it's building up its army and developing more advanced weapons. But it's also working quietly behind the scenes to undermine its global rivals.
From the increased aggression in the Pacific to the repeated attempts at intellectual property theft from other countries, China has been growing bolder in its actions.
The country has the drive to go after what it wants, and its leaders know that there are more effective ways than through traditional warfare. On one hand, China is bolstering its military, building better jets and ships, and attempting to expand its territory. On the other, it's taking a more quiet approach to attack its enemies.
We've seen it here in America and across Europe with the spread of 5G technology. This next-generation telecommunication technology promises advances like better automation, virtual reality, and of course, faster smartphones. That's just scratching the surface of what the technology can do, but it's easy to see just how beneficial it will be to the world as it becomes more widespread.
China sees this too. That's why it has been working to get its own 5G technology into as many countries as it can. This is mostly done through a company called Huawei, which is suspected of having close ties with the country's leadership.