BERLIN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States, Europe and China are dependent on each other and Europe has to find an active role, not be too quick to commit but form alliances with all sides, according to an article published on the German journal WeltTrends in its latest issue.

The European Union (EU) "should not position itself unilaterally on the side of its transatlantic friend, but should form shifting alliances" in the conflict between the United States and China, the authors, Thomas Bonschab and Robert Kappel wrote.

The monopoly position of the West has been challenged and many developing and emerging countries have seen high economic growth, the article said, adding that the EU must "find its role."

The United States has lost its "ability and will to act globally as a peacemaker" though it still accounts for 50 percent of global military expenditure, and withdrawal from global hot spots such as Afghanistan has become the guiding principle of "America First," the authors said.

China has caught up with the United States and Europe in developing cutting-edge technologies in key industries, the article noted.

Europe is less weakened than often claimed, the article said, noting that Europe by far attracts the highest external investments, well ahead of the United States, and despite a lower GDP compared to major new trading blocs such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the EU and Germany in particular has an edge that will last for many years.

The formerly poorer countries have also been more important economically, as per capita income growth rates in Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries were only half as high as in developing and emerging economies, with Asian countries being the main contributors, the authors wrote.

In the new world order, the article said, it can be assumed that the fundamental values of Western democracy will be less in demand than issues such as poverty, disease control, financial market stability, violence and climate.

"Neither the United States nor the EU have the hard and soft power needed to shape the world order," the article said. Enditem

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