U.S. President Barack Obama walks past Chinese President Xi Jinping during a opening ceremony for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting held at the international Convention Center in Yangqi Lake, Beijing, on November 11, 2014./ Source from Yonhap News

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By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - Although being the two global powers now, both China and the US have hang-ups. Speaking of China, it used to be a true great power in the mid-19th century when it accounted for over 30% of global GDP. However, for more than a century since then, the country had been criticized for being a paper tiger. In the early 20th century, China even fell so low as to become the 'patient country in Asia' due to foreign invasions. The United States, the world's dominant superpower, has an inferiority complex although it seems unlikely. Its 200 year history and vague national identity are the main causes of its inferiority complex.

Although the two countries are referred to as the G2 with similar hang-ups, there is a lot of difference between them in terms of national power. China's GDP surpassed US$10 trillion, marking the country the second nation after the United States to post a GDP of more than US$10 trillion. However, no country in the world sees the Chinese economy the same as the U.S. economy. Moreover, there is a huge military technology gap between these two superpowers. China's massive military parade on September 3 made Japan as well as the United States surprised. However, the gap is still large. Indeed, if the two countries have local war, China would be the one to surrender in a few days.

Besides, there is a big difference between the stand of living in the U.S. and in China. It's not easy for Chinese living standard to surpass America's in a short period of time. Cuishan Yun, a Chinese lawyer, said, "Frankly, the day when Chinese living standard can surpass America's is still far-off. Perhaps, it's impossible in my generation."

Of course, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has embarked on his first state visit to the United States on Tuesday, is well aware of his country's weaknesses. Outwardly, Xi is trying to show off China's equal "great power" status with the United States. However, he actually looks careful not to put the United States in a bad mood. His plan to purchase Boeing airliners and his move to give a point in the hacking dispute support the assertion. China is certainly not the patient country in Asia now. But it's difficult to say that China could replace the U.S. as the superpower in the near time.