Yeahh except for the fact historically the west have been developing technologies and social ideologies which are ultimately adopted by other 'civilizations' for millenia. For what counts, they have always been on top, and will be for the forseeable future. other civilizations are still playing catch-up and have social structures which inhibit development, as for china, its delusion of being the centre of the world is what is making them set such arrogant, unreasonable trade terms.