RICHARD FERNANDEZ: The China Challenge. “Part of the problem with ongoing events in China and especially the protests in Hong Kong is that much of the crisis is internal to that country. The West, even the United States, has limited control over events. Complicating matters is that the US is wracked by its own internal conflicts. The legitimacy of American political institutions is in doubt as never before.”

A successful ruling class must be self-disciplined, and willing to sacrifice its short-term advantage for the long-term benefit of the nation. Neither the United States nor China has one of those.