Global power dynamics are shaped by three superpowers—the United States, Russia, and China—while Europe struggles to keep pace.
On February 5, 2025, Deutsche Bank published a provocative article titled “China Eats the World” to emphasize a key message: China is surpassing the rest of the world.
This is evident in two major Chinese breakthroughs within a single week—the launch of the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet and the debut of the low-cost AI system DeepSeek.
The AI launch has even been called as China’s “Sputnik moment,” highlighting the country’s growing stature in intellectual property and innovation.
China has long been viewed as the world’s low-cost factory, with Western markets consistently discounting Chinese stocks as undervalued. Additionally, Western nations have frequently accused China of espionage and intellectual property theft, citing the rapid pace of its innovations—allegations widely speculated but never proven.
China has begun to dominate high-value industries, from defense and technology to automotive (BYD) and telecommunications. The so-called “China discount” could soon evolve into a seal of quality at competitive prices.
China’s rise began with the production of clothing and toys, later expanding into basic electronics, steelmaking, and shipbuilding. Today, however, it has become a global leader in cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.
China is becoming the world’s leading tech powerhouse, dominating social media with TikTok, e-commerce with Shein and Temu, and renewable energy with its near-monopoly on batteries and solar power. It is also reshaping the artificial intelligence sector with DeepSeek.
Anyone who thinks this competitive edge is short-lived should consider a key factor: China produces more STEM graduates than any other country. This ensures a steady pipeline of highly skilled researchers, driving innovation and securing new patents. China’s advantage over the West, therefore, isn’t temporary—it’s structural.
Another crucial factor is automation: China installs 70% of the world’s industrial robots, is developing supply chains with unprecedented efficiency, and is expanding its influence across Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. DeepSeek itself is evidence that China has not only caught up with but may have even surpassed the West in cutting-edge technology. Unlike Western AI models, DeepSeek was developed with limited resources and outdated hardware—yet it can still compete with OpenAI’s top models.
The question now is: how did China build this technological empire?
The answer lies in Made in China 2025, a plan that permanently reshaped China’s role by setting the goal of transforming the country from a manufacturing powerhouse into a global leader in advanced technology. To achieve this, Beijing leveraged a mix of state capitalism and strategic investments, attracting foreign researchers, heavily funding innovation, and forging joint ventures with Western companies.
In response to this advance, the United States imposed tariffs on China in an attempt to stifle its progress, but this only backfired. China doubled down on its efforts to achieve technological independence, with Huawei serving as a prime example.
To conclude, China has proven to the West that, despite tariffs and efforts to marginalize it, not only can it compete, but it can do so more efficiently. The global balance of power could shift in 2025, given the momentum China is gaining right now, while America remains mired in its sense of superiority and Europe in its excessive bureaucracy.
Translated by Iuliana Cindrea
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