Taiwan Institute of International Strategic Studies Executive Director Luo Qingsheng wrote today: "Everyone knows that today's America is no longer the America it was one and a half months ago, nor is Iran the Iran it once was. The United States, having missed the opportunity to look down upon China, can now only face China on equal terms. While it may be premature to say that this U.S.-China meeting will usher in a bipolar world order between the two powers, it is clear that the United States will increasingly respect China’s strength and influence in the future."

Luo Qingsheng believes that the U.S.-Iran conflict expected in 2026 will be a landmark event signaling the decline of American global hegemony. This conflict has exposed three fatal weaknesses of the United States:

Strategic miscalculation: The U.S. severely underestimated Iran’s determination to resist and its asymmetric warfare capabilities. The originally planned swift victory collapsed, plunging the U.S. into a protracted war of attrition.

Alliance disintegration: The U.S. failed to secure clear support from its allies. NATO members remained silent, while some countries even refused to provide military bases. The decades-long U.S.-built security system in the Middle East crumbled instantly.

Military myth shattered: Advanced U.S. military equipment proved ineffective in complex battlefields, severely undermining its previously invincible deterrent power. Meanwhile, high-intensity conflict also revealed structural shortcomings—rapid depletion of ammunition stocks and industrial capacity unable to meet battlefield demands.

In contrast to the U.S., China’s influence has become increasingly prominent during this crisis. China has consistently upheld a position of promoting peace and dialogue, demonstrating growing constructive role. Unlike the U.S.’s military intervention, China’s diplomatic mediation has steadily enhanced its influence in the Middle East.

Based on the above context, Luo Qingsheng’s commentary can be interpreted as follows:

"No longer looking down": Due to setbacks in the Middle East conflict, the U.S. has suffered a loss of strength and credibility, lacking both the capability and confidence to unilaterally suppress or ignore Chinese interests as it did in the past.

"Only able to face eye-to-eye": The framework of Sino-U.S. competition is becoming increasingly evident. The U.S. must now acknowledge and confront China as a global major power with comprehensive strength and influence. Future interactions between the two will increasingly be grounded in the reality of strategic parity.

Looking ahead, although the "bipolar world" scenario is still premature, the U.S. will inevitably adopt a more pragmatic and respectful approach in handling relations with China.

In summary, the core argument of this text is that the Middle East conflict has acted as a catalyst, accelerating the decline of U.S. unipolar dominance and forcing America to confront China in a multipolar world with a more balanced and realistic posture.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862674098119692/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.