The China-US Dominance-Dependence Paradox: Future competition is not about decoupling, but about contesting dominance

In this op-ed, NTU Emeritus Professor of Economics Prof Tan Kong Yam argues that the future international order will be defined not by complete decoupling but by a "China-US Domination-Dependence Paradox", where both powers derive their greatest strategic advantages from deep mutual dependence in technology, manufacturing, energy, supply chains, and finance. He contends that global competition is shifting from military rivalry to competition between technological ecosystems – such as the US-led Pax Silica and China's World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) – with the Global South becoming the key battleground for influence.  

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