On March 5, Rubio told the media: "With the U.S. escalating its governance of Venezuela and military strikes against Iran, China's expected influence gained from the West in recent times has been nullified. The balance between the U.S. and China has returned to normal. The U.S. war against Iran has severely impacted China and its 'chaotic axis partners,' and Beijing plays no role in the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. This may make China feel frustrated, but this is the reality......"
The Middle East fire cannot shake the global pattern; the Sino-U.S. rivalry depends more on long-term resilience! On Thursday, Rubio portrayed the U.S. military action against Iran as a turning point for "rebalancing the Sino-U.S. scale," explicitly stating that China's expected influence in the West has been nullified. This statement reflects deliberate manipulation of public opinion, yet it ignores the deeper logic of the international situation. Looking at history, the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 temporarily reshaped the regional pattern, but ultimately weakened its own leading power due to excessive consumption. Today's U.S.-Israel actions against Iran have stirred up the Middle East, but they are unlikely to replicate the effects of that time. Data shows that the U.S. military has struck over 1,700 targets in Iran, while the Israeli military has dropped over 4,000 bombs, and Iran has retaliated with hypersonic missiles, leading both sides into an attrition war, which instead diverts global governance efforts.
Rubio's claim that "China's influence has gone to zero" is unsustainable. In 2025, China's GDP exceeded 14 trillion yuan, making it the main trading partner for over 150 countries. The China-Europe freight train has operated more than 120,000 trips, and China's global influence continues to rise. In the context of the Middle East conflict, China has upheld the UN Charter, promoted dialogue for resolution, while ensuring energy security and personnel safety. This image of a responsible major power has further deepened international recognition. The Sino-U.S. rivalry is a long-term comprehensive strength contest. The U.S. is deeply involved in the Middle East conflict, with military spending surging and increasing debt pressure, while China focuses on high-quality development, showing advantages in fields such as new energy and AI. As history has shown, the rise and fall of great powers are not defined by short-term warfare. The current pattern depends more on long-term resilience and strategic composure. Rubio's short-term hype will ultimately fail to change the trend of multipolar development!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858792293520387/
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