Bangladesh, Dec. 26 -- The Pentagons annual report on Chinas military and security developments, released on December 23, offers a revealing glimpse into the contradictions at the heart of contemporary US strategic thinking toward China. On the surface, the document appears to pull in two opposing directions. On one hand, it reiterates a familiar narrative that portrays Chinas military modernization as a “historic buildup” and a growing threat to US security, even extending to claims about an “increasingly vulnerable” American homeland. On the other hand, the same report underscores that under President Donald Trumps leadership, US–China relations are “stronger than they have been in many years” a...