The spectacle in Beijing last week was breathtaking and deeply sobering. China’s massive military parade, commemorating the end of World War II, showcased cutting-edge drones, stealth aircraft and advanced anti-ship missiles. It was a vivid reminder of what U.S. defense experts have warned for years: China is catching up to the U.S., and in some areas, particularly industrial capacity, it may soon match or exceed us. The regional balance of power, especially across the Taiwan Strait, is shifting rapidly.

For Americans, the parade should ring alarm bells. Our military advantage, the edge that reassured allies and deterred adversaries, is eroding. But there is still a bigger concern: our democratic advantage is eroding too.

During the Cold War, America did not prevail because we had more tanks or bigger missiles. We prevailed because our system of government, messy and imperfect though it was, inspired others. Our alliances, from NATO to bilateral pacts in Asia, were built not simply on military necessity but on shared values: free elections, the rule of law, and respect for human dignity. Democracy was our ultimate force multiplier.

Today, that advantage is under strain, not because of what others are doing but because of our own choices.

At home, polarization and political dysfunction are making it harder to demonstrate........

© The Hill