Renowned British actress Rosamund Pike has recently gained widespread attention in China—not for her acting, but for her 12-year-old son, Solo Uniacke, who won the global championship in the "Chinese Bridge" World Primary School Chinese Show competition held in Tianjin. Pike, widely celebrated for her on-screen performances, humbly introduced herself as "Solo Uniacke's mom" in a recorded message of encouragement for the event.
Solo Uniacke is no newcomer to accolades for his Chinese language skills. In 2022, he secured first place in the second "Chinese Bridge" competition, and this year, he achieved the ultimate honor by winning the global championship. Starting his Chinese studies at just three years old, Solo has not only mastered Putonghua but also acquired the ability to write over 400 Chinese characters—a remarkable feat for a Western learner.
According to The Daily Mail, while the Chinese language contains over 50,000 characters, the average literate person only needs to recognize approximately 2,500.
Solo's self-introduction video, delivered in fluent Putonghua, has captivated audiences in both China and the UK. British commentators praised his performance, describing his voice as "incredibly cool," even if non-Chinese speakers found it difficult to follow. After his win, Solo expressed his ambition to continue studying until he becomes recognized as the "first blonde Chinese person."
Solo is the elder son of Rosamund Pike and her husband, Robie Uniacke, a British businessman and mathematician fluent in Chinese. Solo’s younger brother, Atom Uniacke, also speaks Mandarin. Both boys share their father’s striking blonde hair, making their proficiency in Chinese even more extraordinary to many observers.
While Pike herself has no Chinese heritage, her admiration for Chinese culture is evident. Her Chinese name, 裴淳華 (Péi Chúnhuá), was chosen by her husband. The surname "裴" (Péi) corresponds to the initial of her last name, Pike, while "淳" (Chún) signifies honesty and simplicity, and "華" (Huá) represents both China and the meaning of "flower," resonating with the translation of her English name, Rosamund, as "the most beautiful rose."
Pike's success in Hollywood includes a Golden Globe win, an Emmy, and an Oscar nomination. However, her genuine enthusiasm for Chinese culture sets her apart from her peers. She has encouraged her Chinese fans to address her by her Chinese name rather than the phonetic transliteration of her English name. This preference has been warmly embraced, further solidifying her connection to Chinese audiences.
In her debut Instagram post, Pike shared a photo taken on the Bund in Shanghai. She has also displayed her calligraphy skills by writing her Chinese name in brush strokes. In 2022, she charmed Chinese social media users by explaining the humorous idiom “除裤放屁” (taking off one’s pants to fart) during an international variety show.
Pike’s approach to parenting, particularly in fostering her children’s education, has drawn favorable comparisons to the often laissez-faire attitudes of many Hollywood elites. Critics have pointed out that some celebrities prioritize personal indulgence over the discipline and education of their children, often resulting in scandal or aimlessness.
The Daily Mail highlighted Pike’s dedication to her children’s learning, with one reader commenting, “Encouraging children to study seriously is commendable. We respect Pike for raising her children with humility and focus.”
In contrast to the Hollywood stereotype of celebrity children living privileged yet unstructured lives, Solo and Atom’s achievements reflect Pike’s commitment to instilling discipline and a respect for cultural understanding.
Beyond her parenting, Pike has actively promoted cross-cultural exchange. She served as a producer for the TV adaptation of The Three-Body Problem, a Chinese science fiction novel. In 2023, during a visit to China to support her younger son Atom at another "Chinese Bridge" competition, she explored Kunming’s local cuisine, showcasing her enthusiasm for immersing herself in Chinese culture.
Pike’s multifaceted efforts—in both her personal and professional life—demonstrate her commitment to bridging cultural divides. Through her family’s achievements and her own advocacy, she continues to earn admiration on both sides of the globe.
Mao Paishou
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Trump just rolled out another tariff threat, and this time Iran's trading partners are in his crosshairs. On January 12, the US president announced a blanket 25% tariff on any country "doing business" with Tehran.
The international press immediately fixated on China—Iran's biggest trade partner. Reuters warned this could reignite the US–China trade war and shred the fragile truce both sides hammered out last year. But Chinese scholars aren't buying it. They say Trump lacks the nerve to slap Beijing with new tariffs, because China will hit back hard—and make him regret it.
Anti-government protests erupt in Iran. (AP photo)
The Financial Times reported on January 12 that these tariffs—which took effect immediately—could slam China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, the UAE, Brazil, and Iraq. All of them trade heavily with Iran. Russia sealed a new free trade deal with Iran in 2025, making it another potential target.
CNN pointed out the stakes for Beijing. China trades with both Iran and the US, so if Washington applies these tariffs, Chinese goods entering America could see costs spike. The network recalled that after last year's summit in Busan, South Korea, the Chinese and US presidents agreed to pause portions of their tariff war—a temporary truce.
Iran as Flashpoint, Again
Reuters published a piece on January 13 titled "Trump's Iran Tariff Threat Risks Reopening China Rift." The article traced how Iran became a powder keg in US–China relations during Trump's first term (2017–2021).
Back then, Washington tightened sanctions on Tehran and blacklisted Huawei, accusing the Chinese telecom giant of selling tech to Iran. That led to the arrest of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei's daughter, Meng Wanzhou, in Canada—triggering a diplomatic crisis and sending bilateral tensions through the roof.
Now Trump's targeting Iran again. If he follows through, total US tariffs on Chinese exports could exceed 70%—way higher than the rates both sides agreed to last October when they dialed down their trade fight.
It's still unclear which countries or entities Trump will actually target. He hasn't named China explicitly. But Reuters noted Trump has a track record of making bombastic statements that could upend US foreign policy—only to back off later.
US–China "truce" forged in Busan last year now at risk if Trump's Iran tariffs target Beijing. (AP file photo)
Beijing Calls Trump's Bluff
Wu Xinbo, Dean of Fudan University's School of International Relations, told Reuters that China sees through Trump's posturing. "China will call (Trump's) bluff. I can assure you that Trump has no guts to impose the extra 25% tariffs on China, and if he does, China will retaliate and he will be punished," said Wu.
Another Chinese scholar pushed back on the narrative that China and Iran are economically intertwined, noting that "China and Iran are not as close as in the public imagination".
China Customs data backs that up. Beijing has dramatically reduced imports from Iran in recent years. Through November last year, China imported just 2.9 billion USD worth of Iranian goods—a far cry from the 21 billion USD peak in 2018, during Trump's first presidency.
Some sources claim China's major oil companies stopped doing business with Iran in 2022. Yet China's purchases from Tehran still run into the billions, thanks to independent refiners handling shipments.
China as Convenient Scapegoat
Wang Jin, a researcher at Beijing's Dialogue Think Tank, told reporters that "China is just an excuse, a kind of disguise for the Trump administration, to impose new pressure (on) Iran."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to Trump's tariff threat on January 13. She stated that China's position on tariffs is crystal clear: tariff wars produce no winners. Beijing will firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests.
Analysts warn that Trump's renewed attempt to cut Iran off from global trade could heighten worries about the Belt and Road Initiative. Iran serves as a strategic hub for Chinese goods heading to the Middle East.
This tariff gambit has cast doubt on Trump's planned April visit to China. Observers had expected him to seal a comprehensive trade deal with Beijing during that trip.
The Wall Street Journal echoed Reuters' concerns, warning that new tariffs on Iran's trading partners could wreck the US–China trade truce.
But Reuters also cited Xu Tianchen, a senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, who questioned whether Trump's tariff policy is even enforceable. "Last year he announced tariffs related to 'illicit' Russian oil trade, but their implementation was patchy." Xu said.
He went on stating that "Trump is also the kind of person who likes bullying the weak," Xu said. "He should manage his actions to avoid these tariffs escalating into direct confrontation with China".
