A Japanese attendee was seen lying on the ground photographing the car’s chassis at an expo held in Tokyo.

Learning Through Disassembly

In 2021, NHK, Japan’s renowned public broadcaster, aired a program showcasing the disassembly of a Chinese Wuling Hongguang MINI EV. By the end of the show, the host and a correspondent looked visibly concerned, admitting, “If this enters the Japanese market, it would pose a serious threat to domestic brands”

In the NHK program, a Wuling Hongguang MINI EV was sent to Nagoya University for disassembly.

Recently, Japanese trading firm Sanyo Trading purchased 16 Chinese EV models, including BYD’s ATTO 3 and NIO’s ET5, for disassembly. They plan to expand this effort by disassembling more models from brands like Li Auto, AITO, and even Xiaomi to uncover the reasons behind the success of Chinese EVs.

Disassembled BYD’s Atto 3 EV on display

Nikkei BP, Japan’s largest publisher, has also joined the disassembly frenzy. They published a 350-page book documenting the entire process of disassembling BYD’s Seal, complete with a DVD featuring teardown footage. Priced at $5,700, a package with additional services costs up to $8,600. In September, Nikkei BP bought a Zeekr 007 from China for similar scrutiny.

Toyota, one of Japan’s “Big Three” automakers, has reportedly torn apart several BYD models, including the Han EV, Tang DM, Dolphin, and Yuan PLUS, for detailed study.

But what exactly have the Japanese uncovered?

Low Cost, High Performance

First, Japanese analysts concluded that “Chinese automakers excel at low-cost production,” thanks to two key factors:

Highly Integrated Components: Chinese EVs integrate multiple key components into single units. For instance, their “E-Axle” system combines eight critical parts—including the motor, inverter, reducer, onboard charger, and DC-DC converter—reducing production costs, vehicle weight, and failure rates while simplifying maintenance.

E-Axle electric drive system integrates eight components into a single unit.

Localized Supply Chains and Shared Components: Many Chinese automakers source components domestically or produce them in-house, allowing for greater parts standardization across models. BYD, for instance, slashes costs by producing components in-house and sharing them across its lineup.

BYD Battery Production Line

NHK’s teardown of the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV revealed that its key electrical components—such as batteries, semiconductors, and capacitors—were entirely sourced from Chinese suppliers, with no parts from Japanese firms.

Masayoshi Yamamoto, a former professor at Nagoya University who participated in the teardown, remarked that the MINI EV’s cost control and precise design target were unmatched. “With Japan’s current supply chain, it’s impossible to produce an EV of the same quality and price,” he admitted.

Second, Chinese automakers excel in software and algorithm development. Nikkei BP’s teardown of the Zeekr 007 highlighted its cutting-edge integrated die-casting technology and 800V high-voltage drivetrain. The vehicle’s high-performance ECU (Electronic Control Unit) features NVIDIA’s in-car SoC (System on Chip), supporting advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) with sensors like LiDAR.

While Japanese automakers excel in precision manufacturing, their struggles in software and algorithms underscore their lag in EV technology.

The Unreplicable Chinese Model

After tearing down the cars, Japanese automakers realized that even if they reassembled an identical vehicle using the same components, they might not match China’s cost or performance. This situation is reminiscent of DJI, the Chinese drone giant. While many of DJI’s components are sourced from the global supply chain, the U.S. has failed five times to sanction the company effectively. The reason? Products with comparable configurations in the U.S. market are typically 3-4 times more expensive and fall short in performance.

DJI MAVIC 3

Banning DJI would drastically increase the cost of drone procurement, creating challenges for various public service sectors and industries in the U.S. Similarly, the core competitive advantage of Chinese EVs and DJI drones lies in their ability to deliver low cost and high performance.

Japanese Automakers’ Ongoing Anxiety

Despite the competition, Japanese automakers retain certain advantages. As the world’s third-largest auto producer, Japanese cars are celebrated for their fuel efficiency, durability, and high resale value. Some engines from brands like Toyota and Honda have operated flawlessly for decades. Japan also dominates the global power semiconductor market, with five of the top ten players hailing from the country. Companies like Mitsubishi Electric, Fuji Electric, Toshiba, Renesas, and ROHM collectively hold over 20% of the global market share. ROHM alone controls more than 10% of the silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor market and 15-20% of the SiC wafer market.

While the global automobile market is still dominated by gas-power from brands like Toyota, Volkswagen, and Honda, Japan’s frantic effort to dissect Chinese EVs signals the mounting pressure Chinese automakers are placing on their Japanese counterparts. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Japanese cars held a 23.1% market share in China in 2020. By the first four months of 2024, that figure had plummeted to just 12.2%. In contrast, the market share of Chinese brands surged from 38.4% to 60.7% over the same period.

Clearly, relying on teardown strategies alone won’t solve the challenges Japanese automakers face. In the end, they may be left grappling with the anxiety of being fully outpaced by their Chinese competitors.

Masayoshi Yamamoto and his team at Nagoya University has begun disassembling Xiaomi’s SU7

The post To Uncover the Secret, the Japanese Tear Down Chinese EVs first appeared on China Academy.

As these technologies become more integrated into our lives, they challenge not only US elections but electoral politics in general. Humanity may now be navigating a sea of fluid and distorted perceptions, where misperception can dynamically evolve and ultimately shape tangible political realities.

Even four or eight years from now, we may still not know exactly what happened during the months leading up to the 2024 election—just as with the 2020 or 2016 elections. However, these elections inevitably produce significant political consequences. In this case, Trump is seen as achieving a decisive victory, with far-reaching implications for the United States, China, and the world at large.

Trump gained in the battlegrounds and beyond, including traditionally Democratic areas.

This is how flawed or even wrong perceptions can ultimately shape tangible political outcomes—what I describe as “Misconceptions End Up Dictating Real Life Politics.”

As an observer, I was struck by the complexity of the forces shaping the political landscape, which has become increasingly opaque. The influence of capital, heavily discussed in earlier elections, was actually easier to trace —tracking who funded campaigns, which super PACs were formed, and the narratives they promoted. The common belief was that whoever spent the most money had the greatest influence and the best chance of winning. This clear cause-and-effect relationship provided a degree of predictability. However, this time, the dynamics feel far more intricate.

We knew all along that inflation and immigration would take center stage in this election. To put it another way, it was a “bread-and-butter” issue versus a class issue. While class divides society horizontally, identity-based issues divide society vertically, such as the identities of Black and White or men and women.

Of course, in hindsight, we can say that identity politics did not prevail over class-based concerns.

But does it imply there was a consensus before the election that bread-and-butter issues would overshadow identity-based concerns? No, I think opinions were divided prior to the vote. Many predicted a close election, with the outcome hinging on just a few thousand votes.

I think Elon Musk has been leveraging legal gray areas to potentially influence elections. While his actions may not be outright illegal, he may be exploiting ambiguities in the law.

In the election, there are likely many behind-the-scenes factors that the public is unaware of. For instance, there are speculations about Musk’s involvement with Twitter X, his own app, as well as Mark Zuckerberg’s apparent support for Trump on Facebook.

Additionally, we see reports of significant amounts of money being poured into betting websites, alongside discrepancies among the numerous polls conducted, raising questions about which ones are truly representative. It’s not as simple as one party engaging in false polling – both Democrats and Republicans may be leveraging information technology to shape public perception, and this may not be limited to the current election cycle.

I can’t stress enough the evolving relationship between technology and elections. Election result is deeply intertwined with the development of technology. For example, the principle of “one person, one vote” – while not fully realized in the US context – represents a form of mass democracy that is closely tied to the rise of mass media, newspapers, radio, and television, as well as modern transportation.

Think about the early days of the United States, only propertied white men were enfranchised to vote. This was not just a reflection of the political thinking of the time, but also the technological limitations. If a slave or a poor white man had been allowed to vote, they likely would have had no means to access information about elections, nor the ability to travel 20 or 30 miles to a polling place on horseback. Information and transportation have fundamentally shaped the nature of democratic participation in each era.

Electoral democracy that we are familiar with today has evolved in tandem with the development of mass media and modern transportation infrastructure. This includes the ability to establish polling places across many locations – all of which are enabled by technological support. As human enters a new era of information and technology, the traditional Western electoral systems naturally face new challenges. This is not a judgment on whether the system is good or bad, but rather an objective observation that the established “playbook” of elections is being confronted by emerging technological forces. I believe this is the key takeaway I have from this election cycle.

It is not limited to just this particular U.S. election, but applies to all elections going forward.

Ideally, elections should be established on the premise that all voters have access to similar information and knowledge. The two of us, for example, should be able to access the same set of information, and then make our voting decisions based on our own interests and values. However, we now live in an era of “alternative truths”, where the information you receive can fundamentally differ from the information I receive, shaped by distinct algorithms. If you are a Republican, you may harbor strong resentment towards Democrats, and vice versa. This undermines the common ground upon which the electoral process should be built.

The post Musk is Pushing Western Democracy to the Brink first appeared on China Academy.

The ICC found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

According to ICC’s official statement, both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity. This finding is based on the role of Netanyahu and Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal. The Chamber found that their conduct led to the disruption of the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza. The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care.

In addition, by intentionally limiting or preventing medical supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, in particular anesthetics and anesthesia machines, the two individuals are also responsible for inflicting great suffering by means of inhumane acts on persons in need of treatment. Doctors were forced to operate on wounded persons and carry out amputations, including on children, without anesthetics, and were forced to use inadequate and unsafe means to sedate patients, causing these persons extreme pain and suffering. This amounts to the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts.

The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that the abovementioned conduct deprived a significant portion of the civilian population in Gaza of their fundamental rights, including the rights to life and health, and that the population was targeted based on political and national grounds. It therefore found that the crime against humanity of persecution was committed.

Finally, the Chamber assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza.

The ICC’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, urged the body’s 124 members to act on the arrest warrants, and called on countries that are not members of the ICC to work together towards “upholding international law”.

The US has previously welcomed ICC war crimes warrants against Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials. However, for the warrants of arrest Netanyahu, the US National Security Council said “The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter,” issued a statement fundamentally rejecting the court’s decision.

The post U.S. Welcomes Globally Wanted War Criminal Netanyahu first appeared on China Academy.

The post Can Trump Form A US-Russia Alliance to Confront China? first appeared on China Academy.

President,

China is very disappointed with the result of today’s vote. Guyana, Algeria, and other E10 members of the council demonstrated maximum amount of sincerity and constructiveness during the consultation of the draft resolution. The U.S. long use of the veto has dashed the hope of the people of Gaza for survival, pushing them further into darkness and desperation. I said during the council’s debate on Monday that every moment will be recorded in history and will be judged by history. We cannot imagine half the vote today, as well as the Security Council’s failure to respond to the Gaza’s conflict over the past 13 months can escape the harsh judgment of history.

In the future, when looking back, people will find it hard to believe what happened. When the U.S. cuts its first veto on 18 October last year, nearly 3,000 civilians had been killed in Gaza. By the time the us cuts its second veto, 17,000 people had been killed as a result of Israeli bombardment. With each veto, the death toll in Gaza continue to rise with the us exercises veto for the 5th time on April 18th this year. The death toll in Gaza stood at some 34,000. Now that nearly 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza. Yet the United States still did not hesitate to use its veto. 44,000, it is not some cold statistics. It could be a minor, a nursing mother or the breadwinner of a family. The loss of each and one of them means internal pain for the surviving relatives. People cannot help, but to ask do Palestinian lives mean nothing. Count the deaths of 44,000 people win even a little bit of sympathy from the United States, how many more people have to die before they wake up from their pretend slumber?

In the future, when looking back, people will find it hard to understand what happened. The Security Council is mandated under the UN charter to shoulder the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is incomprehensible why? For the past years or so, the United States has been so insistent in rendering the council incapable of playing its role, leading to its paralysis. The U.S. claims to be conducting parallel diplomatic efforts and has repeatedly promised that progress would be made soon in the negotiations. It is incomprehensible. Then why to date the so-called diplomatic negotiations has seen no progress? Why is Israel allowed to continue its military operations while consistently putting forth new conditions for negotiations

In the future, when looking back, people will find it inevitable to feel indignant. Israel has frequently breached every red line of international humanitarian law with these actions causing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. But even as famine is eminent in Gaza, the United States always seems to be able to find a justification to defend Israel. This represents a distortion and selectively regard of the applicable IHL. People keep learning something new they never knew before was possible and how low one can stoop? No wonder people feel angry. People’s indignation also stems from the fact that the continued supply of weapons from the us has become decisive factor in the war lasting so long, causing so many casualties and so much destruction.

President,

The U.S. representative earlier called for the release for hostages in the statement. Our position has been very clear from the beginning. All hostages must be released. A limited and unconditional cease ceasefire must be established. Both are important factors. There should be no any conditionality. They cannot be linked to each other. Because facts have shown that Israeli military operating in Gaza have long exceeded the scope of rescuing hostages. Insistence on setting a precondition for ceasefire is tantamount to giving the green light to continue the war and condoning the continued killing.

The repeated use of veto by the United States has reduced the authority of the Security Council and international law to all time low. But it is never too late to recognize mistakes made and take corrective actions. We call on the U.S. to take its responsibility as a permanent member of the council seriously. The U.S should stop being passive and evasive, stop dragging its feet deliberately. The U.S. should adopt an attitude accountable to history and support the council in taking all necessary actions to achieve a ceasefire, save lives and restore peace.

Thank you, president.

The post How Many More Palestinians U.S. Wants to Kill With Its Veto Power? first appeared on China Academy.

China can, and it did-as demonstrated by its Zhuhai Airshow that concluded last week. Among the over 600,000 attendees are former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Ukrainian and American military officers, and, of course, the ever-generous leaders from the Middle East. By the end of the event, more than 1,100 Chinese and foreign companies collectively secured weapons orders worth $38.7 billion.

On site, Ukrainian soldiers meticulously examined drones, unmanned boats, radars, and electronic warfare equipment, while Russian pilots eagerly carried away models of China’s J-35A fighter jet as if they were treasures.

On November 8, the Air Force’s J-35A conducted its first adaptive flight training.

AVIC displayed several drone models.

While most Western media outlets downplayed the impact of this exhibition-which could reshape global warfare landscape-wecollected reports and comments around the world to offer you a glimpse of the psychological whirlwind the exhibition evokes, to say the least

(Translations of Arabic, Korean, Japanese, and Thai comments were sourced from Google.)

India: Instigation

Indian media outlet Firstpost headlined their article: “Why China’s New Weapons at Zhuhai Airshow 2024 Is Worrying for Its Neighbours.”

India was clearly deeply shaken, but it still “kindly” expressed concern over the security of neighboring countries, regional safety, and the freedom and openness of the Indo-Pacific.

The article said: “With the newly unveiled HQ-19 missile, J-35A fighter, and J-15T jet, China poses a serious challenge to India’s already strained defense.”

It argued that: “These powerful technologies represent China’s expanding military capabilities, which could impact the security and stability of the region.”

In the eyes of Indian media, confrontation between China and its neighboring countries is inevitable: “This development makes it harder for nearby countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, to plan their defenses as China’s aerial reach grows stronger.”

It even portrayed China as a disruptor of peace in the Indian Ocean: “China’s progress in advanced air and missile technology is putting the resilience of security alliances, such as the Quad (the US, India, Japan, and Australia), under scrutiny as they work to uphold a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific.’”

Japan: Calm

Japan’s Asahi TV Channel (ANN News Channel) showed extraordinary enthusiasm for the Zhuhai Airshow. On the opening day of the airshow, they uploaded an 11-hour-long YouTube video, offering detailed observations of the event.

This brings to mind Japan’s earnest pursuit of Western knowledge and culture during the Meiji Restoration.

The sincerity of Japanese netizens in the comment section of this video even moved some Chinese viewers.

Some Japanese netizens lamented the decline of their country’s military power:

@上田うまたろー

やばいな、軍事力が抜けている

It’s terrible, military power is lacking.

Others expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. military:

@gentoffire

いつの日か日本人がアメリカ人の支配から解放されることを願っています。特に沖縄の人々が。

I hope that someday the Japanese will be freed from American domination, especially the people of Okinawa.

Of course, there were also comments ridiculing the weapons in the video as fakes:

@港东

エプソンで印刷しました！

Printed with Epson!

But many more expressed genuine admiration:

@younaoreiyosi

性能は不明だけどこれだけ自国で設計＆生産できるのは脅威、宇宙ステーションも自国のみで作ろうとしているし、日本じゃ国民が反対しまくってこのままじゃ国力が低下していかないか心配

Performance is unknown, but being able to design and produce this much in one’s own country is a threat. The space station is also being built entirely by themselves. In Japan, the public opposes such initiatives so much that I’m worried about the decline of our national strength if this continues.

In the comment section, Chinese netizens left their messages:

@lee-afk

Sino-Japanese friendship, Asia’s rise!

@USTCdog

The Japanese are rational and have a broad vision, which is truly impressive. The U.S. ultimately didn’t fully stifle the intellectual independence of the Japanese people. As a rational netizen, I do respect the Japanese. However, due to historical reasons, I can also see that Japan will remain a potential threat to China for a long time. Compared to those arrogant and ignorant people, Japan is a worthy opponent.

Thailand: Bitter

Unlike the rational restraint of Japanese netizens, Thai netizens were highly “engaged” in criticizing China’s J-35A fighter jet for “copying” on related videos from Thai media outlet PPAV’s YouTube channel.

@Mr.vanveerasaq

Copy ทุกอย่างแล้วบอกว่าแรงบันดาลใจ

Copy everything and say it’s inspiration.

@Rolex-dz4ed

ก้อปแม้กระทั่งตัวเลข… 35 เค้า

Copy even the numbers… 35 of theirs.

Are you saying that the J-35A stealth fighter jet has copied the US F-35?

But some Thais were clear-eyed about China’s achievements and the gap between the development of China and Thailand:

@suratheppadklang5376

ไม่ว่าเรื่องอะไรต้องมีพวกคอยดูถูกจีนคือไม่มีปัญญาทำได้แต่คอยดูถูกเขาบางทีคนพวกนี้ยังใช้โทรศัพท์จีนอยุ่ก็มี

No matter the issue, there are always people belittling China. They lack the capability to do it themselves but keep looking down on others. Sometimes these people even use Chinese-made phones.

@seeapk2529

ไอ้พวกที่ด่าเขา นี่มันจะรู้มั้ยว่าคนไทยด่าจีนมา3-40 ปีแล้ว ทั้งเรืองก๊อป ถ่มน้ำลาย พูดเสียงดัง ห้องส้วมของจีน จนมาถึงวันนี้เขาทิ้งเราห่างไป100 ปีแล้วคนไทยก็ยังนั่งด่าอยู่ที่เดิมไม่เคยไปไหน

Those who curse them, do they realize that Thai people have been mocking China for 30-40 years, calling them copycats, criticizing their spitting, loud voices, and toilets? But today, they’ve left us 100 years behind. Meanwhile, Thais are still stuck in the same spot, mocking without progressing.

South Korea: Bitterness

Under a report by South Korean media outlet SBS, the most liked comments on YouTube revealed a sense of bitterness.

@bumsukim7320

우리나라가 의학과 법학과 등 때문에 선진국된 나라가 아니라 기술직 공대생 때문에 선진국이 되었는데 이제 찬밥이 되었으니 앞으로 미래는 없음

Our country did not become an advanced nation because of medicine and law departments, but because of engineering students. Now that engineering has been neglected, there is no future ahead.

@switch9444

대한민국은 로로지 검찰.판사.의사만 제대로 대접받음 공대생은 천한 노비나 다름없음 특목고 애들은 전부 의대진학

In Korea, only prosecutors, judges, and doctors are treated properly. Engineering students are regarded as no better than lowly slaves. All students from specialized high schools end up pursuing medical school.

@andykwon698

미국이 하는건 다 맞고, 중국이 하는건 다 틀리다고 판단하는 정부, 매체, 개인들 반성해야…

The government, media, and individuals who assume that everything the United States does is right and everything China does is wrong should reflect on themselves…

@217gun2

음 중국 무섭고 요즘은 수준 높아지는게 보임

Hmm, China is scary, and I can see their level rising these days.

@dia4816

이제 우리나라가 이쑤시개 만들고 양말,가발 만들 때가 된거임 이 나라 끝났음

Now it’s time for our country to start making toothpicks, socks, and wigs. This country is finished.

Russia: Taking Models Too

Confronted with China’s strength, the Russians didn’t seem too conflicted: Russian (Sukhoi) chief test pilot Sergey Bogdan was photographed purchasing models of the J-20 and J-35 after performing with his Su-57 at the Zhuhai Airshow.

Arabia: Buying, Buying, Buying

Unlike the aforementioned netizens, the comments under the Zhuhai Airshow videos shared by Arab bloggers exude a sense of confidence stemming from their “wealthy” identity. Perhaps because of this, their compliments seem more genuine.

@mohammedalsultan3906

أنا من اليمن

اعتقد الصين تسير في التصنيع العسكري والالكتروني بوتره متسارعة و قد تفوق أمريكا في بعض المجالات

وهذا هو المسار الطبيعي الناتج عن الاحتكار والهيمنة الاتحادية

I am from Yemen.

I think China is moving toward military and electronic industrialization at an accelerated pace and may surpass America in some areas.

This is the natural path resulting from monopoly and federal domination.

@هيثمحسيناطيخ

الصين قوه لايواجد الا ربي بعده

China is a power that no one exists except my Lord after.

@IshakIshak-kj4mi

إن شاء الله الجزائر تشتري هذه أسلحة صينية

God willing, Algeria will buy these Chinese weapons.

@djoumakhrayan2798

الصنيون عفاريت الهندسة العكسية نحن نستورد لنستهلك وهم يفككون يحللون ويتعلمون ثم يصنعون ثم يبدعون

The Chinese are goblins of reverse engineering. We import to consume, and they dismantle, analyze, learn, then manufacture, then create.

@smail829

العملاق استيقظ ولن يعود لنوم ثانية

The giant woke up and will never go back to sleep again.

@HoucinKrache

الصين تتقدم بي وبوتره والتكنولوجيا متقدمه ومتسارعة الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية بي اشوط في مجال الصناعات عسكري هيا مستقبل العالم

China is moving forward with pace, and technology is advanced and accelerating. The United States of America is making strides in the field of military industries. It is the future of the world.

@وايت77-ب9ض

هل رأيتم الصين تتعدى على حرمة دولة ما …دولة محترمة نفسها وشعبها وكل دول العالم اشد الاحترام… اتمنى ان تصبح الصين زعيمة العالم لدحر بعض قطاع الطرق الصعاليك مثل الولايات المتحدة وبني صهيون ووووو

Have you seen China infringe on the sanctity of a country? A country that respects itself, its people, and all the countries of the world with the utmost respect. I hope that China will become the world leader to defeat some thug bandits like the United States and the children of Zion, wow.

China: Show You So We Don’t Fight

Beyond the speculations about war from international netizens, Chinese users on Quora’s equivalent, “Zhihu,” shared their views on China’s Zhuhai Airshow. Their consensus is clear: China’s open showcase of its arsenal is aimed at avoiding war.

@小风同学 (2,334 Likes)

Why does China do this?

In my view, it’s precisely because China doesn’t want a major war, so it directly displayed its arsenal. Frequent muscle flexing is to prevent hostile forces from misjudging. It’s a straightforward declaration to the world: I don’t want to fight, and you better not mess with me.

@塔尔萨拉 (1,279 Likes)

I checked some international websites. Those who know the field are already imagining how the U.S. military might scramble under the onslaught of robotic wolves and drones, even making up a few short stories.

Those who don’t understand keep repeating the same phrases: developing country, copying, backward engines, etc.

Surprisingly, many Taiwanese netizens are speaking positively this time. Have our Taiwanese compatriots awakened?

@蜗牛 ( 1,386 Likes)

Let me share my personal thoughts:

1. China’s leadership truly values caution in war and cherishes peace. Looking at the weapons at the airshow, we could have ground our archenemy nations to dust three times over by now.

2. This airshow is primarily about deterrence and secondarily about selling products.

3. China has genuinely maintained neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. If we supported either side, these unmanned devices could have crushed the other side completely.

4. Beyond loving peace, China’s caution in war also aims to avoid forming military-industrial complexes similar to those in the U.S., where military and corporate interests intertwine.

Once the military complex takes power, it would squeeze out the civilian government, racing toward reckless militarism. Starting a war is easy; stopping one is hard.

The comments we collected reflect how citizens from different geopolitical contexts perceive China’s military strength. Such exhibitions that provide a glimpse into the future global order are becoming increasingly rare.

Once upon a time, the UK’s Farnborough, France’s Paris, Russia’s Moscow, Singapore’s, and China’s Zhuhai Airshows were collectively known as the world’s five major airshows.

Among them, the first three were the most dazzling. The Farnborough Airshow used to be a showcase for U.S.-NATO air force equipment. The Moscow Airshow was the counterpart for the Soviet-Warsaw Pact system. Meanwhile, the Paris Airshow, benefiting from France’s independence from NATO, top-notch military industry, and air force equipment, held an irreplaceable position.

For a long time, the Zhuhai Airshow was relatively weak, often serving as a platform for civilian aviation enthusiasts.

Now, however, due to wars and sanctions, the scenes of countries showcasing their weaponry can only be seen at China’s Zhuhai Airshow. The mockery or admiration from other countries onlyonly unveils one clear trend: a new world order is taking shape.

The post Mixed Feelings on China’s Largest Airshow: Arabs exclaimed, “May God bless us, we’ll take them all! first appeared on China Academy.

George Yong-Boon Yeo delivered a speech at the Cambridge Union in late October 2024.

If China were to follow the path of the former Soviet Union, these concerns would be valid, and lessons from the Peloponnesian War and the Thucydides Trap theory would be relevant. However, China’s nature is fundamentally different from that of the Soviet Union. While studying Greek civilization can offer valuable insights into the evolution of Western society, a different perspective is needed to understand East Asian society—one that revolves around the rise and fall of China’s history.

What sets China apart is its unusually high level of homogeneity for a country with a population of 1.4 billion. Roughly 92% to 93% of the population in China is Han Chinese, which is more than twice the population of Europe. Chinese share a common literature, writing system, and a set of heroic figures. In Europe, there are distinct histories, landscapes, heroes, and self-perceptions every few hundred kilometers. While primitive regional differences exist in China, with many dialects being mutually unintelligible, their high-level language is based on writing. China possesses a well-documented history and shared historical hero images. Consequently, it is an exceedingly homogenized society.

This homogeneity is not accidental or a result of a particular leader or set of policies but is ingrained in the cultural and civilizational DNA of China. In fact, Chinese people prefer living in a society dominated by Chinese. In times of crisis, they implement control measures. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Chinese people may grumble, they adhere to regulations. Those outside of China often find it difficult to accept these measures and may choose to leave. To some extent, China welcomes this, as it allows the Chinese to better close hatches, raise drawbridges, shut gates, and safeguard themselves. Throughout its dynasties, China continuously built the Great Wall. The Great Wall we see on Instagram is merely a “fossil” because the Great Wall was once a living system, not just a wall of bricks and stones but a control system beyond the wall itself. Whether inside or outside the Great Wall, if a guard on a watchtower dozed off and failed to sound the alarm promptly (whether for those outside or inside the wall), the guard could face execution because it was a matter of life and death. When things are calm and there is no threat, the gates are open, and people can move freely. But when danger arises, control measures are activated, the surveillance network is mobilized—not just beyond the Great Wall but deep within, including the mobilization of reserve forces. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed this: the population was divided into grid units, and problems were tackled one by one.

Western media and the internet want us to believe that China performed poorly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In reality, China excelled during the outbreak. As all epidemiologists know, in a pandemic, it’s desirable to be the last country to open up, not the first. Therefore, China had the fewest deaths, only around one million. Additionally, due to maintaining closed-loop production domestically during the pandemic while the rest of us stayed at home, afraid to interact with others, working or pretending to work on our phones or computers, collecting salaries, waiting for delivery drivers every day, and sometimes speculating on who bought what at home. So, who made the items in these packages? Where did they come from? They all came from China.

All ships sail to China loaded with manufactured goods. They leave things here and then return to China empty. I worked in the logistics industry for many years. Trans-Pacific shipping costs typically ranged from $1,000 to $2,000, but at that time, prices soared. When prices reached $5,000, the instructions to the fleet were: no need to wait for unloading, leave the containers there, and return the ships empty because the cost of each container was only $2,000. These costs later led to what is now referred to as the supply chain crisis.

In those years, China’s trade surplus broke historical records. In 2020, China’s merchandise trade surplus was $530 billion; in 2021, the figure rose to $670 billion. In 2022, while the outside world was only concerned about sudden epidemic control measures in Shanghai, China’s merchandise trade surplus grew to $850 billion. Last year, this figure remained mostly the same.

When China finally opened up, Shanghai hosted a car show. Western and Japanese car manufacturers were shocked because while they were idle in their respective countries, China was making significant strides. Today, China’s electric vehicles dominate the global market. They are the world’s largest car manufacturer and, I believe, also the largest car exporter globally—especially in the electric vehicle sector.

In my view, in certain circumstances, China’s cultural homogeneity is a tremendous advantage. However, when this highly centralized, inward, and homogeneous system encounters issues, when this massive machine stutters, its state of “discomfort” can persist for a long time. This is also the reason behind the long cycle phenomenon in Chinese history.

One key reason, in my opinion (as I have mentioned in my book), is paper. For many centuries, China held a monopoly on paper. Compared to materials like parchment, papyrus, or palm leaves, Chinese paper could store more data and handle more information. For centuries, the Chinese have controlled vast amounts of paper and kept it secret. When you can capture and process such a massive amount of data, you can organize more people. The stronger the data processing capability, the larger the human society you can organize. Because of this technological monopoly, Chinese society has created a highly centralized system that no other nation in the world can achieve, granting Chinese society its unique characteristics.

When Chinese people say “we don’t have imperial ambitions because it’s not in our nature,” this is the truth. Conquering India or other parts of the world, as the British did, requires organizing people who are different from you, with cultures that may not be easily assimilated. For China, things are much simpler as long as they are dealing with Chinese people. Therefore, it is a mistaken assumption for Americans to believe that after China’s economic growth, its behavior will mimic that of Western imperialist nations or even resemble the actions of the United States. This situation cannot be proven through “mathematics” but only through practical experience. This may take some time, maybe 20 years, perhaps 30 years, by which time Americans will finally come to believe: this is the essence of China. China is not Russia, not the UK, not France, and not Germany.

In tense international situations, actions taken by all parties to counterbalance each other make businessmen very uneasy because they have to deal with tariffs, surveillance, and various restrictions. Therefore, many people are migrating to Southeast Asia, including European, American, Japanese companies, and Chinese companies. Chinese businessmen often tend to localize themselves by changing passports to become Singaporeans, Malaysians, or Indonesians. Even in Italy—near Padua, close to Florence—Wenzhou people have become Italians, with many converting to Catholicism. When we buy ties or handbags labeled “Made in Italy,” they are actually made by Wenzhou people in Italy.

In Africa, another pattern emerges with many interethnic marriages. Chinese people are not living in mansions on high mountains like the old Western colonizers, served by servants, but are riding bicycles, running small shops, and promoting their goods. Of course, some are big businessmen. However, the rise of China is a whole new phenomenon. I sometimes liken it to a new sun entering the solar system, causing gravitational shifts in the orbits of all planets, distorting their paths. Moreover, this new sun is even bigger than the existing one.

Imagine this: China’s population is four times that of the United States. As Elon Musk pointed out, it’s a simple arithmetic problem: when China’s per capita GDP reaches half of the U.S., its economy will be twice the size of the United States. Currently, the average productivity of Chinese individuals is only half of Americans, but they are extremely hardworking. If China’s per capita GDP surpasses half of the United States’, its economy could potentially match the sum of the United States, the European Union, and Japan.

This is a monumental phenomenon. The orbital paths of each celestial body will be affected. Making a mistake could lead to collision with larger entities. But understanding these forces could lead to unprecedented orbital freedom. Therefore, understanding the phenomenon of China is crucial. It is a vast and complex phenomenon. In Southeast Asia, having witnessed the historical changes in China, we instinctively know how to deal with modern China. Within ASEAN (the alliance of ten Southeast Asian countries), if we strategize effectively, we can play a stabilizing role between the U.S. and China, China and India, making all parties comfortable while benefiting ourselves from this cooperation and competition.

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Joe Biden attended COP27 in 2022

On November 11, the United Nations’ annual climate summit, COP29, kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the conference, the US climate envoy John Podesta said that the country will not stop its efforts to resolve climate issues, even with Biden’s term coming to a close. Mr. Podesta seems to be suggesting that Biden is an important promoter of the environmental agenda in the United States. But 2 facts will prove the reality is just the opposite.

U.S. Climate Envoy John Podesta delivered a remark at COP29.

First, Biden’s pledged donations for global environmental protection never materialized.

In 2021, Biden pledged at COP26 that the U.S. will increase its climate finance support for developing countries by 2024, suggesting the government could mobilize $100 billion annually for climate finance. Moreover, in 2022, the Biden administration launched an initiative called the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), promising the U.S. will support developing countries by providing $3 billion annually by 2024.

However, according to NRDC, in March of this year, the U.S. congress only passed just 1 billion in funding for international climate programs. And this is third year that the U.S. has failed to deliver on its promise. Notably, the $1 billion allocation—part of a $1.59 trillion spending package—excluded funding for the Adaptation Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund, both aimed at helping developing nations address climate challenges.

During COP 28 last year, the State Department released a report, claiming that they were on track to meeting the goal. Yet, the Biden administration has delivered less than a tenth of the $100 billion funding pledge by 2024.

Secondly, not only did Biden fail to fulfill his promise to donate to environmental protection, but he also invested heavily in the fossil fuel industry in Africa, further worsening the situation of climate refugees.

According to the Guardian, the U.S. government has invested more than $9 billion into oil and gas projects in Africa since it signed up to restrain global warming in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, while it committed only $682 million to clean energy developments such as wind and solar power over the same period. The money poured into Africa accounted for nearly two-thirds of all the money the U.S. has invested globally in fossil fuels.

In 2021, the Biden administration ordered to stop investments in these projects worldwide. However, Kate DeAngelis, the international finance program manager at Friends of the Earth, said there is no difference between Biden and Trump on overseas fossil fuel investment.

For example, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) are the primary funders of overseas energy projects. According to the New York Times, EXIM provide nearly $6 billion in financing for fossil fuel projects from 2017 to 2021, while investing only $120 million in clean energy. And this trend has not stopped since Biden took office. Data from Oil Change International show that, since 2022, the U.S. has invested a total of $3.2 billion in 10 fossil fuel projects, with EXIM alone approving nearly $1.3 billion for five of them.

the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)

Over the past decade, EXIM has financed coal mining in South Africa, oil drilling in Nigeria and a vast gas project in Mozambique. In 2022, EXIM President Reta Jo Lewis stated that the project was part of the bank’s mission to “increase American exports across the continent.”

Today, 17 of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change are in Africa. At the same time, the continent is home to about 60% of the world’s most solar-rich environments. Yet, the United States seems more focused on exploiting Africa’s fossil fuel resources than investing in its abundant clean energy potential. Youba Sokona, the vice chair of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said the investments from the U.S. is not promoting the development of Africa, instead it is creating fossil fuels for export.

In 2019, EXIM approved a $4.7 billion loan to fund a gas project in northern Mozambique. In fact, the gas will release large amounts of methane. Under equal mass conditions, methane has a much stronger impact on the greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. The Global Warming Potential of methane is approximately 25 times that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year time frame.

On the other hand, China is keeping its promise of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, continues to make great progress in clean energy and shares its green energy innovations with the world.

For example, in Kenya, the Chinese government financed the construction of a 50 MW solar power station, which is one of the largest photovoltaic electricity plants in Africa. According to Kenya’s Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, the plant has reduced over 43,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

A section of the expansive 206,272 panel solar plant constructed in Garissa, Kenya

According to Earth.org, Chinese investments in renewable energy across Africa grew by an average of 26% per year between 2010 and 2020, focusing mainly on solar, hydropower, and wind projects.

Over the past two centuries, the United States and Europe have imposed slavery, war, and pollution on the African continent, while China has contributed infrastructure, jobs, and clean energy for the last 75 years. It is hoped that as more African countries align with China’s Belt and Road Initiative rather than the U.S. Africa Command, and hope Washington will take the opportunity to reflect on its historical misdeeds, rather than merely speculate on whether others are more reprehensible.

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