The article details China's economic struggles following the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of its housing market, leading to low consumer confidence and international investor concerns.
Despite these challenges, a shift in sentiment occurred by 2025 due to a combination of factors:
The Trump administration's policies and actions, specifically the haphazard dismantling of government agencies, attacks on media and courts, and abandonment of the multilateral trading system, are cited as major reasons for a reassessment of China's position relative to the United States.
In comparison to the perceived chaos and instability within the US, many in China view their own system, despite flaws, as relatively stable, leading to a sense of renewed confidence. This perception is amplified among pro-regime nationalists who see the Trump administration as abandoning its ideological challenge.
The article concludes that the real contest for systemic competition is over, at least for now, with the Trump administration's policies inadvertently bolstering China's confidence and changing the global perception of the two countries' relative strength and stability.