Setting its Doomsday Clock to 100 seconds to midnight, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists report: ^^ Emphasis on "by design". The Bulletin faults the United States for leaving the INF treaty, threatening New Start, and adopting "a bullying and derisive tone toward its Chinese and Russian competitors." https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/current-time/ US forces are in the Asia-Pacific "to compete with the Chinese." Flights there by nuclear-capable B-52's are "a warning to China of engagement to come." The US is also backing the protests in Hong Kong. Esper's dark vision for US-China conflict makes war more likely One former one current Australian Prime Minister have issued similar warnings. Kevin Rudd, who is also a China scholar, says that "the risk of armed conflict in the next 3 months is especially high." The current Prime Minster, Scott Morrison, basically agreed. He said that the hot war between the US and China was "previously inconceivable, possible or likely...not anymore." US, China crisis could spiral into 'hot war', Kevin Rudd warns This is all about preserving the unipolar world. U.S. military puts 'great power competition' at heart of strategy: Mattis A 2017 Pentagon study on military strategy in a "post primacy world" noted that the U.S. "clings to significant political, economic, and military leverage," but warns that such leverage is "increasingly exhibiting less reach, durability, and endurance." DoD Risk Assessment in a Post-Primacy World - Army War College Publications
