[dmix]

Why does every single conversation about China have to devolve into a contest with America? This is usually a way to distract from problems in China with whataboutisms. The soviets did this obsessively too the minute anyone critiqued them.

It is in fact possible to evaluate a countries economy in isolation as well as comparatively globally … and America (and the rare EU anecdote) is not the only economy to compare to.

America’s issues don’t alleviate other country’s issues. The Chinese economy, population, and political/legal system are often very different so direct comparisons are usually only partially valuable.

[OneTimePetes]

All ex-empires (Iran, Turkey, Great-Britain, France, Spain, China) when talking about a topic compare themselves with the current rooster on the heap.

[dmix]

Every time there’s a China article on HN at least half the comments are about America, or more. Why can’t we just talk about the issues China is having?

Wanting to compare them isn’t the problem here by itself. It’s how every conversation gets derailed with “but America does x”. They both have their own problems.