[Text/Observer Network Liu Chenghui] The U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities has added fuel to the already tense situation in the Middle East.

"The U.S. is about to go to war again, and China will be the winner, just as it has been for the past twenty years." The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) published an article on June 23rd, which believed that over the past week, there was a stark contrast between the U.S. and China. When U.S. President Trump ignited conflicts, China was making friends all around the world.

The article emphasized that for decades, the U.S. has engaged in constant warfare, which not only consumes vast resources but also leads to domestic division, low morale, and reduced international support; while China learned from the U.S.'s lessons, always pursuing peaceful development. Now, with the U.S. bombing Iran, it may involve itself in another war, becoming the biggest loser.

On December 11, 2001, China joined the World Trade Organization, just three months after the "9/11" incident. Since then, China has risen as an industrial power, while the U.S. has been bogged down by wars and domestic turmoil.

After the "9/11" incident, the U.S. launched the "War on Terror," followed by Yemen in 2002, Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003, Libya in 2007, Syria in 2014, the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, the Ukraine conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the past two years, as well as the two trade wars initiated by Trump, and now Iran.

On June 22nd, Tehran residents held anti-American demonstrations. Visual China.

Despite Trump realizing this situation and once using "no more wars" as his campaign slogan, he could not resist pressure from the U.S. military and Israel.

In the meantime, China was making friends all over the world.

Although China is strengthening its military capabilities and promoting industrial policies, it has not resorted to force. China still adheres to traditional concepts: economic policies are for improving citizens' welfare and enhancing national strength, not for ideological cultural warfare; diplomacy is for winning friends and influencing others.

What happened last week perfectly embodies the differences between China and the U.S.

When Trump cut short the G7 summit to prepare for bombing Iran, while threatening other G7 countries and refusing to sign the joint statement, the Chinese leader was attending the Second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

At this summit, China reached a permanent friendly cooperation treaty with the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), and through the signing of the Astana Declaration, affirmed the "China-Central Asia spirit" of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual assistance, and high-quality development to promote common modernization."

On the afternoon of June 17, 2025, the Second China-Central Asia Summit was held at the Independence Palace in Astana. Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

The article reviewed the history of war, warning that war would weaken everyone.

Before the 20th century, wars were often for plunder and slavery: essentially robbing, where invaders became wealthy through spoils and forced labor... However, plundering has become outdated, at least not openly done so... Modern wars, however, only consume and weaken all parties involved.

This is especially true when wars are based on lies (like the Iraq War), last too long (like the Vietnam War and the Afghan War), or are overly expansive (like the Gaza issue), because not only are they costly, but they also undermine morale, divide nations, and weaken global support.

For now, despite Iran being struck, the biggest losers have always been, and still are, the U.S., which has grown weak due to anger and excessive expansion over the long term.

Beyond costs, these wars have divided America and dampened morale, especially the Iraq War, the Afghan War, and the Gaza issue. Now, Trump, while attempting to rebuild America's industrial base through tariffs and trade wars, is preparing to go to war with Iran, which will not work.

The article wrote: "Throughout the entire process of U.S. belligerence, China has been reshaping its own history peacefully."

Trump triggered a trade conflict with China during his first term as president and imposed semiconductor export bans. Soon after, the Chinese leader began addressing the issues. Not only did the Chinese invest billions of dollars in developing the semiconductor industry, but they also invested more funds in almost all other industrial products to ensure complete independence.

After all, if the U.S. can block semiconductors today, tomorrow it might target chemicals, cars, robots, or solar panels. Trump's actions proved that China's concerns were correct.

Since the Meng Wanzhou incident in 2018, China has spent seven years building a strong industrial, technological, and military complex without invading any country or engaging in war.

"China has learned the lessons that the U.S. has not," the article concluded. "They have clearly seen the damage that America's belligerent behavior over the past 24 years has brought upon itself."

The U.S. blatant strike on Iran's nuclear facilities has drawn condemnation from multiple sides. At the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on June 22nd, China and Russia strongly condemned the U.S. air strike on Iran.

Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong, before the meeting, reiterated his condemnation of the U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Fu Cong pointed out that these nuclear facilities are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. This action by the U.S. openly violates the Charter of the United Nations and international law, causing a devastating blow to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) mechanism, which is a crucial pillar of the international order.

In addition, Fu Cong pointed out that Iran has been harmed, but equally damaged is the credibility of the U.S., whether as a nation or as a participant in any international negotiations.

This article is an exclusive piece by the Observer Network and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519044341214888487/

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