It's a growing recognition - a lot of the 90s commentary around China was, in my recollection, essentially mediated by genteelly stated Yellow Peril racism and fear, much like the 80s fear of Japan. Along with a fair dose of anti-Communism - reading the old Leninist & Stalinist ideas for world revolution into the CCCP.

The 2000s have allowed, in my opinion, a more mature understanding of China with less stereotypical hyperbole. I expect part of that is the commercial and cultural interchange, part of that is time, and part of that is the Internet.

I also think there's something of an ideas stagflation in the US, against which China might be considered to be a bright spot in the world.