We have no problems competing with other countries in those fronts. If we did, we would have put the military smack down to Japan back in the 80s, especially after Japan said this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Japan_That_Can_Say_No
Unlike wars, economic and technological defeats usually came from within. Japan did not came to 'first among equals'.
And you are wrong when you said that Imperial Japan did not showed 'much hostility' towards the US before the surprise attack on Hawaii. The US and Imperial Japan were in constant negotiations regarding Japan's conduct in Asia and the failure of them led to the economic sanctions by the US. What made the attack on Pearl Harbor a surprise was its tactical audacity, not strategic thoughts possible by the Japanese military because a war against the US was already contemplated by Imperial Japan.