The "trap" refers to the dangerous structural stress that occurs when a (China) threatens to displace a ruling power (the United States).
: All-out war could be sparked by "ordinary flashpoints" or accidents that would normally be manageable, such as a trade conflict, cyberattack, or a crisis in Taiwan or the South China Sea. Destined for War: Can America and China Escape ...
: Allison’s team identified 16 cases over the last 500 years where a rising power challenged a ruling one; 12 of these resulted in war . The "trap" refers to the dangerous structural stress
: China’s rapid economic ascent is unparalleled—surpassing the U.S. in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)—while the U.S. maintains a "DNA to be Number One". : Named after the ancient Greek historian Thucydides,
: Named after the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who observed that the Peloponnesian War was caused by "the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta".