2025 has been a disastrous year for the Western camp—one glaring setback after another. Their losing streak is impossible to hide. Why is this happening? Let’s dive into the latest news and analysis.
China’s Reference News pointed to an October 16 article on the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung website, headlined “China, not Trump’s Washington, is the real world power.”
It argues that before the close of the decade, China will become the world’s leading power. Washington’s unpredictable domestic and foreign policies have chipped away at America’s credibility and global charm. By contrast, Beijing’s steady, cooperative stance looks far more appealing in a chaotic world—something many Western pundits are reluctant to admit.
Latest polls from countries worldwide—including many in Europe—show China topping the popularity charts, leaving the US in the dust. China now holds the crown for soft power. Instead of listing every win one by one, let’s flip the script and see where America as the West’s leader is dropping the ball. German outlets point out that Trump’s “America First” doctrine has alienated partners, eroded alliances, and sapped US allure. But is it just Western in-fighting? This reveals a century-long blind spot: too often, the West has either been living in a self-fulfilling narrative or ignored capitalism’s democratic flaws—embracing fairy tales over logic. The bottom line? The US and its Western allies, Germany included, crumble under real pressure.
China Holds the Cards
The answer to who’s serious is written on the wall: China’s the only one playing for keeps.
Over the weekend, over 2,700 US cities—from New York to the smallest towns—flooded the streets under the banner “No Kings,” airing their discontent with Trump. When reporters asked him about it, Trump shot back, “I’m not a king.” (Deutsche Welle)
Trump may deny being a king, but he’s the ultimate street boss. After nearly a year, his crude, street-fighter approach—pure street smarts—makes it clear the White House is run by hustlers. They lash out when they lose and double down when they win. If their usual smoke-and-mirrors get exposed, they erupt in profanity-fueled tantrums. From the president and vice president down to the War and Treasury secretaries—and even the White House press secretary—it’s the same rush. With tactics like that, who’d mistake Trump for royalty? As Cantonese says: “Even in the dragon robe, he looks less like a crown prince—let alone an emperor.”
Two real stories from Europe and America lay their ugly truth bare—they read like chapters from China’s classic collection of supernatural tales “Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio”.
Ghost Stories of the West
In 2012, the Costa Concordia—with 4,232 passengers aboard—hit a reef off Italy and flipped, killing 32 and injuring 64. Three years later, Captain Francesco Schettino was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and slapped with a 16-year sentence. He broke down in court, insisting he was just the cruise line’s fall guy to protect its bottom line.
Back in 1912, the Titanic rammed an iceberg in the North Atlantic and went down, taking over 1,500 lives out of 2,200 on board. The tragedy laid bare the ship’s lack of lifeboats. Rumor has it Captain Edward Smith turned down rescue offers after the crash—and he was never found.
If there was ever a “Titanic spirit,” design flaws aside, it sure didn’t save the captain. A century on, prosecutors branded him a “reckless fool” who “ditched his passengers to save himself.” How does the West shrug this off?
I’ll spare you the full breakdown—this screams “Painted Skin” from Strange Stories. And guess what? Google’s AI nails it in its summary:
Google AI Spills the Moral
First takeaway: don’t let looks fool you. The tale warns against those who wear human skin with scorpion hearts hidden inside.
Second lesson: moral retribution exists. Good or bad, actions have consequences—so be kind and stay on guard.
See the point? With AI as our guide, we don’t need to wait for dawn. Bravo!
Deep Blue
** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **
Trump's talking up his China visit next year with all the enthusiasm of a dealmaker closing a big one. Fine. But the thing is: America's got to pick between two paths ahead. Either Washington works with Beijing to uphold a genuine international order—not the selective "rules-based" playbook the West loves to cite—or it rallies the old imperial gang for an "Empire Strikes Back" scenario across the Asia-Pacific.
Two days back, China's carrier Fujian slipped through the Taiwan Strait. First time since commissioning. The Fujian isn't just China's third carrier—it's the first one designed, developed, and built entirely in China, and it's got electromagnetic catapults. That's not just hardware. That's a statement.
Then, Washington green-lit $11.15 billion in arms sales to Taiwan—the biggest weapons package to the island in U.S. history. The Pentagon's spin? The sales "serve “U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability." China's Foreign Ministry didn't mince words today: U.S. arms sales to support (Taiwan) independence will only backfire on itself.
Okinawa Radar Games
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Japan are making their big moves. On December 15, Japan's Ministry of Defense signed a land lease deal to deploy mobile radar on Okinawa's easternmost island—all to track Chinese carriers and aircraft operating between Okinawa and Miyako islands. Beijing's spokesperson fired back with a pointed question: Is Japan creating incidents and engaging in close-range provocations to provide cover and excuses for its own military expansion? Is it following the track of right-wing forces down the evil and dead-end path of militarism?
Here's something worth to note: Japan's an old imperial power too. And it was once a major carrier nation.
Back in September, the U.S. military website Army Recognition broke the story that China's first nuclear-powered carrier, the 004, is already under construction. When foreign media pressed China's Defense Ministry on whether "China is building a fourth aircraft carrier and whether it will be nuclear-powered," the spokesperson played it cool: they "do not have specific information."
But as the saying goes: God is in the details. Expert analysis suggests the PLA's aiming to go toe-to-toe with America's supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford. The 004 nuclear carrier is expected to displace somewhere between 110,000 and 120,000 tons with a length of 340 meters—outclassing the Ford-class at 100,000 tons and 337 meters. The 004's projected to carry over 90 aircraft, beating the Ford's roughly 75.
Twenty-Five Years, Three Carriers
What can you call a miracle? Everyone knows aircraft carriers were the domain of major industrial powers from the early 20th century, taking a full century of development to achieve dominance over the seven seas. Here's some context: China purchased the Varyag in 1999 and started refitting it at Dalian Shipyard on April 26, 2002. On September 25, 2012, it was officially renamed Liaoning and entered service. China went from zero to carrier capability in just 25 years. Are Chinese carriers really viable? That's the question many netizens keep asking—mainly the ones from Japan.
The great architect and Bauhaus pioneer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe summed up his life's work by pointing out that architecture lives in the details. "Precise details and vivid vitality can create a great work," he said. Flip side? Sloppy details destroy order and rules—as terrifying as the devil himself.
China's carrier success reflects its industrial achievements and excellent execution capability—rooted in outstanding historical traditions. Look at the infrastructure built during the “Spring and Autumn” and “Warring States” periods: the Qin Speedway, Dujiangyan, Zhengguo Canal, and the Great Wall. You'll quickly realize that Chinese culture goes way beyond mere "craftsmanship." What's the difference? Strategic vision combined with meticulous attention to detail.
Trump's Details Problem
Trump doesn't sweat the small stuff—but he can't establish himself through integrity either. Take the Nobel Peace Prize, for instance. Today's world isn't the world of 200 years ago. America's current situation looks exactly like Spain's futile attachment to the Americas back then. But perhaps it's even worse, and this comes down to details: U.S. carrier aircraft repeatedly lose wheels during takeoff, and there have been incidents of accidentally shooting down their own planes in the darkness.
Postscript: Don't know what you're thinking, Trump. But if you want to fight, you've got to get the details right first—especially quality control. A superpower can't be this sloppy and disorganized, yeah?
