China has built a big boat

Historians love to tell us that we should study more history so we can learn from it. Reading about China's completion of its first aircraft carrier and the fear this has sparked in its neighbors I can help to feel that a good parallel for this is pre-WW1 Germany. China fills about the same role in the power balance in early 21 century Asia as Germany did in 20th century Europe. They both are/were large states who's rapid rise in both economic and military power is threatening the balance of power in the region which previously has constrained any one nation from dominating the continent in question.

Americas role in today's Asia is very similar to Britain's traditional role in the European power struggle. As an outsider determined to prevent any one nation from gaining control of their continental neighbors. Britain has historically faced down a series of continental powers to this end. In Americas short history they have effectively prevented both Japan and later Russia from achieving this goal, now the threat looks like it might come from China.

What is especially troubling with this comparison is what convinced Britain of the German threat in the decade leading up to WW1 was the German plan to go from a nation with very limited maritime capabilities to build a fleet to challenge the power of the Royal Navy. Today the American fleet that holds the position previously held by the British and it is China that is building up its naval capabilities.