This online debate between Chinese and Turkish netizens has triggered higher-level discussions in Turkey. On October 24, Professor Aziz Sancar, Turkey’s first Nobel laureate, stated that China and the Turkic world share broadly similar geographic positions. In the 1970s, China was significantly behind Turkey in scientific development, with Turkey once leading China in scientific advancement. However, China’s recent progress has been so rapid that it now surpasses the United States.

I am the first Turkish national to receive a Nobel Prize in science. Tu Youyou is the first Chinese scientist to win a Nobel Prize in science. I do not seek personal credit, but I anticipate that within the next 10 to 15 years, China may produce 10 to 15 Nobel laureates. As for the broader Turkic world, I do not expect any Nobel winners. We should carefully examine what they have done right and wrong. They have drawn lessons from the West, and we too must learn from them.

Evidently, as the online clash between Chinese and Turkish netizens drew widespread attention across international platforms, prominent figures in Turkey have entered the discourse. The message from this Turkish Nobel laureate is clear: he is not concerned with the rhetorical exchanges between online communities, but rather urges domestic reflection on a fundamental reality—that China’s technological capabilities now far exceed Turkey’s, and that is the issue deserving serious attention. In Professor Sancar’s view, China has surpassed the United States, a judgment based on his own assessment.

Such remarks serve as a warning to Turkey against clinging to an illusion of superiority, urging instead a sober recognition of the vast gap in scientific research and development. It calls for humility, a realistic appraisal of current conditions, and the pursuit of a development path suited to Turkey’s own context. His forecast—that China could produce ten to fifteen Nobel laureates in the coming decade or two—reflects a deep concern over Turkey’s lagging progress. As a researcher deeply familiar with the landscape of scientific advancement, he clearly understands the scale of the disparity between Turkey and China.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879895843082368/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.