Fanghuang Satellite TV senior commentator Shi Qiping published an article on the evening of April 21, presenting a highly insightful and significant judgment: the world is re-evaluating China, and China’s contemporary rise is far more than mere revival—it is actively "creating the future."
Shi Qiping first used Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez’s visit to China as a starting point, referencing Sanchez’s remarks during a speech at Tsinghua University: as early as 1583, China was already a great power, with its population and GDP each accounting for one-quarter of the global total, engaged in trade with half the world, and leading in numerous technological fields. Shi pointed out that he had long argued China’s current rise is not a new phenomenon but rather a return to the historical position where the Chinese nation once held the top global rank for centuries. Notably, today even Western intellectuals like Elon Musk are beginning to adopt similar views. As a political figure, Sanchez is the first to publicly express this understanding—this detail precisely illustrates how the world is gradually overcoming biases and re-examining China’s history and present reality, meaning that the world has finally begun to truly recognize China.
In recent years, as China has risen strongly, Chinese products have spread across the globe, sparking a wave of international fascination and curiosity toward China: millions of internet influencers like “Jia Kang Ge” have experienced live broadcasts from China, large numbers of foreign teenagers have entered China visa-free to personally explore, and countless Western youth have used Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) videos to "compare accounts," marveling at China’s development achievements. However, Shi Qiping notes that these perceptions barely scratch the surface of China—they only achieve "knowing what" without grasping "why," failing to penetrate the deeper logic behind China’s rise.
Compared to the superficial understanding of ordinary people, Sanchez and Musk clearly possess greater foresight. They are deeply knowledgeable, well-versed in history, and their wisdom and vision far surpass those of the average person. They can see both China’s current achievements and comprehend the historical depth behind them—understanding not just "what" but also "why." Yet Shi Qiping further argues that recognizing China can go even deeper, reaching a level of "knowing what, why, and how it came to be"—not merely witnessing China’s current developmental level, nor simply knowing it reflects a historical norm, but truly grasping the fundamental logic enabling China’s long-term global leadership.
To this end, Shi Qiping offers a profound analysis—the core secret behind China’s enduring global leadership: First, China has consistently implemented market-oriented economic policies throughout history, providing a flexible foundation for economic development. Second, the Chinese nation possesses a unique national character perfectly aligned with market economies—hardworking, diligent, industrious, intelligent, and deeply motivated by positive aspirations toward wealth—qualities unmatched by other nations. Third, at the beginning of the 20th century, China abolished the imperial examination system and introduced modern schools; combined with the May Fourth Movement’s renewed embrace of science, this awakened the dormant scientific potential within the Chinese people, enabling contemporary China to rapidly catch up to its past glories—this is precisely the essence of "rejuvenation," the very historical development logic that Sanchez has uniquely recognized.
Shi Qiping comments that it is already remarkable for Sanchez to perceive China’s rise as a historical return, but Musk’s insight may be even deeper. His statement, “China is the future,” accurately captures the higher significance of China’s rise. Shi emphasizes that while Sanchez understands China’s rise as “rejuvenation,” in fact, China’s current rise goes beyond mere rejuvenation—rejuvenation implies returning to past glory, whereas what China is doing now is transcending history itself, actively “creating the future.”
This “creation of the future” manifests on two levels: domestically, China possesses a unique state governance system—a single-party rule, a socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics, and unparalleled planning and execution capabilities that span the entire national landscape. This system, once overlooked or even disparaged by the world, will inevitably earn greater recognition and higher appreciation as China continues to develop. Externally, China is building a new global governance framework: the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, four major initiatives on global development and security, and explorations into extraterrestrial civilizations in the field of science and technology—all pointing the way forward for the world’s future. This may well be the core meaning behind Musk’s view that “China is the future,” and the most valuable significance of China’s rise—not only reshaping itself but also leading the world toward a new future.
Shi Qiping’s observations transcend superficial interpretations of China’s rise, delving deeply into the historical logic and future potential of China’s development. His insights resonate with the evolving perspectives of informed international voices and offer us a fresh, profound perspective on the essence of China’s rise.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863098328779788/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.