In addition to building up the world's largest military, the Chinese have been busy constructing trophy cities with some of the most impressive skyscrapers in the world. This occurs while real estate development in the United States has dwindled. Most Americans have never even heard of many of these growing Chinese mega-metropolises.

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China_by_population

For a telling map that shows what nations are building trophy cities see: http://www.ctbuh.org/Portals/0/Tallest/2020/Tallest2020_WebVersion2.pdf

The Arabs have plans for numerous super tall skyscrapers. Most notable is the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. At 3,281 ft it will be more than twice the height of the Sears Tower in Chicago which was the tallest building in the world for nearly 25 years. The United States has been surpassed.