In the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, President Trump signed an executive order on April 2, 2025, loudly announcing the "Reciprocal Tariff Policy for Making America Wealthy Again." This move was seen by his supporters as a call to economic revival, but commentators from the "Asia Times" sharply pointed out that this is not only a "stupid trade war," but also a historic error that hands over America's global economic leadership to China. Borrowing a famous saying from French diplomat Talleyrand: "This is worse than a crime; it's a mistake." In national affairs, crime may be forgiven, but mistakes can be fatal.

Winston Churchill once joked: "When all other possibilities are exhausted, Americans will always do the right thing." However, Trump's policies seem to be exhausting all "stupid possibilities" at an astonishing speed. From threats to annex Canada and Greenland, to undermining national capabilities with Dogecoin, to attacking elite universities, Trump's actions have been criticized as "spectacular irrational venting." Such policies not only erode trust among allies like Australia but also lead Pope Francis to express concerns about America's China policy during an interview with the "Asia Times."

Even more unsettling is that Trump's trade war is destroying the very foundation of America's economy. Data shows that America's industrial base is no longer sufficient to sustain a full-scale trade war. As tariffs push up midstream product prices and critical resources like rare earth elements run dry, American industry could face widespread shutdowns in the coming months. Store shelves will be empty, and inflation will soar. As commentators noted: "Anyone who believes that a weak deficit economy with a fragile industrial base has leverage will end up eating humble pie."

Meanwhile, China is reshaping the global economic landscape at an astonishing pace. Chinese universities produce 1.7 million engineers annually, which is 6.7 times the number of 250,000 engineers produced by American universities. Since the turn of the century, the number of Chinese engineers has increased eightfold, all thanks to profound educational reforms. From adult education in Mao Zedong's era doubling literacy rates to Deng Xiaoping's market reforms unleashing potential, China's human capital accumulation laid the groundwork for today's technological and industrial leadership.

According to a report from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KISTI), China has surpassed the U.S. in research output in seven key fields, including chemistry, agriculture, environmental ecology, and electrical engineering. The "Nature" magazine's global university rankings show that 14 of the top 20 research universities are from China, compared to only four from the U.S. China's dominance in industries such as 5G, shipbuilding, automobiles, solar power, batteries, nuclear power, high-speed rail, as well as innovations in consumer drones and cashless economies, stems from its deep accumulation in education and technology.

Sarcastically, Trump's policies have not only failed to contain China but have also self-destructed. America's world-class research universities are at the core of its economic vitality, with international students making up half of the graduate student population in STEM fields. However, by restricting research funding and demonizing international students, Trump's attempts to "eradicate the awakening virus" could lead to the loss of international Ph.D. students, thereby weakening America's technological competitiveness. As warned by the commentary: "The loss of international Ph.D. students will go unnoticed, but as American science and technology shrink, economic vitality will catastrophically decline."

Trump's trade war is not just an economic blunder but potentially a civilizational crisis. Pentagon strategists cannot deny China's 250-fold advantage in shipbuilding capabilities, and the National Science Foundation cannot ignore China's rise in higher education. Faced with a China that "planted trees" three decades ago, America's response is one of panic, as if "just starting to plant trees today."

Worse still, America's $37 trillion debt and domestic political division leave it unable to withstand the consequences of a trade war. America's Treasury bonds may face permanent "idiot premiums," university rankings will fall, and global alliances will disintegrate. Commentators pessimistically predict: "The best-case scenario is permanent damage, while the worst-case scenario will see a shift from the errors of the trade war to something even more sinister."

China has become a larger economy than the U.S., and its leadership in technology and education is irreversible. Commentators note: "Being second place should not embarrass Americans." America still has得天独厚geographical and resource advantages, but its stagnation in human capital and political division have led it astray. Trump's trade war is merely an irrational resistance to the reality of "not being able to win."

As in "The Great Gatsby," where Tom and Daisy are careless, America's leadership seems to expect others to clean up the mess after smashing everything. However, history will not forgive such mistakes. The commentary concludes by urging America to shed the burden of "first place," return to rationality, and focus on domestic reconstruction and investment in education. Clearly, the Chinese, with their strategic composure and long-term planning, have firmly taken the path to victory.



Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7501628489066578447/

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