I think when I wrote that, it was in the context of China exceeding America is certain economic metrics that the author has now decided are important for neoliberal economies. First chart he used was comparing the amount of electricity generation. Then he goes off into renewables and then attitudes to education. Most Americans wouldn’t see competing with China in those things as races worth the effort of trying to win.

Americans just think they’re the greatest country and then they get on RedNote or whatever and see some modern Chinese cities and think “WTF? Why does that look nicer?” It’s a vibes comparison.