iran cut off from global financial system, page-14

'Power in China, particularly economic power, still flows from the barrel of a gun.'

That is absolutely correct. However - the power of the gun is always conditional on the power of the money. Money always has been (and is) the responsibility of the sovereign.

To simplify the issue - the Pentagon is financed by the US State. My understanding is - that the US will concentrate its military power and financial power more on the Asian region, Europe withdraws (some) of its financial power from the region, but will remain in Africa. European military power is still focused and deployed via NATO.

I am not ideology driven - China's military power will not not catch-up with the US until (sometimes) 2020. So arguing about which state is more reliant on its military power to maintain 'democracy' is a superficial argument - not about colour (substance) but which shades of gray.