I am beginning to think China is a country with more democracy then the US. I can't wait when China is the most powerful country in the world, and knock US off the rank. 
You may get your wish, but the recent experience of countries like the Philippines gives a preview of how much fun it is to deal with an ascendant China.
There is no doubt that US power is eroding and the NSA spying is horrible but there is still a lot of idealism in the US and its problems are on the front page for everyone to see. Many other countries try and hide and cover up their problems often attempting to deflect blame somehow to the US.
Actually according to the history lesson, China explore the entire world in 1405. They were peaceful and just do trading and visiting different countries. http://www.economist.com/node/5381851
Whereas, when the Westerner explore around the world in 1492. They went around conquering different countries and killing other native people to steal from them.
The reason is geographical. China can't project power over the Himalayan mountain range. This also isolated them from being attacked. Thus they turned to domestic and SE Asia domination.
But now China seeks a blue water navy. They are not there yet though. Long ways away.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA someone's never even heard of Leif Errikson and viking trans-atlantic voyages. Europeans knew about the new world before chinese even thought of sailing to middle east.
Never mind the drivel spouted by Chiasson and Menzies is a thoroughly discredited and that 'map' has been widely critiqued as a fake. Great wishful thinking, but at best that map would be a copy of earlier european and middle eastern discoveries.
Another idiot who conflates orthogonal issues.
Exploring is not the same as supply lines to project military power far away.
Learn what "blue water navy" means.