The Chinese Era Has Begun
Okaz, Saudi Arabia, April 23
In the face of the most complex trade war in modern history, China has proven itself not only a formidable adversary but also a strategic force actively reshaping global power dynamics.
During Donald Trump’s first term, China found itself at the epicenter of an escalating economic conflict after Washington imposed sweeping tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods as part of a broader strategy to curb Beijing’s rise. Yet China did not retreat; instead, it met these challenges with impressive political acumen and economic resilience, leveraging its vast industrial base, skilled human resources, and remarkable adaptability under pressure.
China swiftly countered the US tariffs with its own measures, targeting sensitive American agricultural and industrial sectors, particularly those comprising President Trump’s electoral base. Simultaneously, it diversified its global markets by signing trade agreements with the European Union, Southeast Asian nations, and Latin American countries, thus mitigating the impact of American pressure.
Beyond merely retaliating, China expanded its economic reach by investing heavily in the Belt and Road Initiative projects and in institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, creating alternative economic pathways outside the Western sphere of influence.
Give the gift of hope
We practice what we preach:
accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone.
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
Join us.
Support The Media Line. Save democracy.
Over the past five years, China has undertaken qualitative transformations that have positioned it for any future trade battles. It has expanded its production capabilities to historic heights, now accounting for nearly 30% of global manufacturing output compared to just 15% for the United States.
China has also overtaken the US in the production of automobiles, steel, cement, solar panels, and drones, and now leads the world in industrial robot assembly and boasts the largest naval fleet on the planet.
In nuclear technology, China is more than a decade ahead of the US, with plans to construct over 100 nuclear reactors in the next two decades—a bold testament to its ambitions for sustainable energy dominance.
The Chinese economy has already surpassed that of the United States in terms of purchasing power parity and has demonstrated a remarkable ability to sustain growth despite global turmoil, including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and the economic stagnation of Western markets.
More crucially, China’s strategy is not limited to survival; it seeks to actively reshape the global order. It is stepping in to fill the void left by the United States, which has weakened its own leadership through the dismantling of traditional alliances and the imposition of tariffs even on close partners like Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, thus eroding its strategic clout.
Despite internal challenges such as an aging population, a heavily indebted real estate sector, and stringent internet censorship, China’s economic dynamism and its meticulous long-term planning have created a pivotal moment in world history.
China is no longer merely contesting America’s position; it is preparing the world for a new era of international balance. This may well be the dawn of the “Chinese era” in every sense—a period in which global economics, politics, and technology are increasingly shaped by Chinese hands and according to new equations that move beyond the gravitational pull of Washington’s orbit.
Rami Al-Khalifa Al-Ali (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)
