Trump's "Empire Strikes Back" Gambit: A Long Shot at Best

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?

Deep Blue

** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **

Wang Yi's Wake-Up Call

"Japan colonized Taiwan for 50 years, piled up crimes against Chinese people – now its leader's using Taiwan to stir trouble and threaten China with force." – Wang Yi

Should the world tolerate this, then nothing's off-limits.

America's dithering while China charts global civilization's course. Ahead of schedule? No – US and Japan's procrastination demands a brutal cure.

Wang Yi, Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister, met German counterpart Wadephul in Beijing, rolling out the "seven-lock theory" on Taiwan's status with ironclad history and law. America needs to get it straight: muddling to this point means knowing what to chase fast and what to back off from pronto. Don't let twisted ethics spark catastrophe. Heads up – Asia-Pacific's been stormy lately, all from the White House playing with fire.

British historian Arnold Toynbee predicted that the nineteenth century belonged to Britain, the twentieth to America, and the twenty-first to China. Kissinger's 1994 Diplomacy foresaw a century per global power.  

America's Fall, Japan's Rise?

In reality, the U.S. can no longer sustain global hegemony. Russia's Sputnik News Agency quoted mainland Chinese commentator Sima Pingbang as noting that U.S. strategic contraction would inevitably usher in a phase of Japanese expansion across East Asia and the Western Pacific. He highlighted how Tokyo is exploiting Washington's eastward pivot to pursue remilitarization—effectively reviving militarism—through recent overtures to Australia and encouragement of "Taiwan independence" elements aimed at threatening China. 

China stands firmly on the side of justice, prompting Sima Pingbang to emphasize that Beijing can readily forge consensus with longstanding allies like Russia and North Korea due to enduring shared interests. This alignment positions them to implement a "century-long containment" strategy against Japan.  

For instance, as UN Security Council permanent members, China and Russia should coordinate positions on the Takaichi Sanae government's nuclear weapon pursuits and swiftly introduce more targeted, enforceable verification measures. Both nations, as victors in the anti-fascist war, bear inescapable responsibilities for safeguarding global peace and humanity's future.

Another commentator, Zhou Chengyang, noted the US new National Security Strategy vows "never letting any country grow too powerful to threaten US interests." Meanwhile, White House Treasury Secretary Bessent told TV: "America sees China as long-term rival." Note this – but it's just America "declining yet kicking."  

Dual Deterrence Crushes Militarism

In short, calling China-US "equals" today saves face. America ain't what it was. Trump's playbook: "Back to Western Hemisphere, keep an eye on the Pacific, ditch ideology." Taiwan affairs expert Dale Jieh Wen-chieh floats "dual deterrence" – US Taiwan policy isn't just defending Taiwan; it must "deter" both Taiwan and mainland in order to max US gains.

This works perfect on Japan too, especially against an ultra-right government's die-hard ethos. America can't let itself get hijacked for Japanese militarism. Cross China's strategic red line, and America loses its shirt – never mind escaping clean. China's stepping up to fix the world's crumbling order? That's enough to rattle America.

The "Kissinger Law" is sealed. US cleanup window – Europe or Asia-Pacific – slams shut anytime. I'll repeat: mind your own business and take care of yourselves. Fresh news: Early December, Chinese and Russian forces ran their third joint anti-missile drill on Russian soil. Backdrop? Japan's missile buildup with US-exclusive supply.

Tweaking America's own line: China won't cap US growth, won't dominate or humiliate. Face matters, so play smart or it flops.