Connexion
This is partially based on a Pascal Coppens Book launch. His book is called China’s Next Miracle. He describes that the book launch (Europe) went far beyond his own expectations because the interest in China and its ‘miracles’ has become real. He explains that people are ready for a new narrative. They feel that something big is unfolding — and they want clarity.
In my selected and reworked writing, his work targets one of the biggest misconceptions shaping today’s geopolitics and economy. It so happened that AHH and I had a conversation about AI in the US and whether a real bubble is developing. I explained at the time that the AI in the US will develop a bubble because they are not making it usable. The next step is to develop AI for business, and they are not doing that, but the developers are trading with themselves. Pascal’s work was interesting from that perspective.
He states:
There Is No AI War Between China and the US. And believing there is may be the biggest distraction of our time.
Why the illusion of an AI race persists.
“Who here uses ChatGPT or Grok weekly?” Almost all hands go up. Then: “Who here uses a Chinese AI model weekly?” Just a handful.
So the conclusion seems obvious: the US must be winning.
But when you look at the reality on the other side of the world, the picture changes instantly. Over 500 million Chinese use a local LLM every week. And NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang openly states that half of the world’s AI developers are in China — while many developers in the US are also Chinese.
So why do we still perceive that China is “behind” in AI?
Because we see what comes out of China as the “artificial” part of AI, while we trust that the “Intelligence” part of AI is being built in the U.S.
Why there is NO AI war: A versus I
We imagine a race because we assume China and the US are trying to run the same race. They aren’t. Their AI worlds could not be more different.
A versus I.
China’s AI strategy revolves around four A’s. The US strategy revolves around four I’s.
China’s AI model:
Accessible: China is doubling down on open-source. DeepSeek triggered a nationwide shift where almost every Chinese tech company now builds its models with open source and open collaboration. Open-source is not a side project in China — it is the national direction. China uses AI to maximise access, and not restrict it.
Affordable: Chinese companies know how to scale and optimise. Instead of overinvesting in giant models or hyperscale compute, China made AI cheap, efficient, and fast to deploy. Affordability is not an accident — it is a strategy to win the Global South, where most people cannot pay $20 per month for AI services from OpenAI or Microsoft. China sees AI as a lever to become the service factory of the non-Western world.
Applicable: China’s focus is not on building one universal model like ChatGPT. China goes mostly vertical. Sector by sector. Business by business. Application by application. The country builds AI that solves real problems in healthcare, logistics, schools, factories, and government services. The AI hospital in Beijing, operating without doctors and diagnosing 20,000 patients per week, is one of the clearest examples of this approach. AI is not a product, it is not an operating system — it is an application engine – like your browser but only designed for how you use it.
Augmenting: China’s government views AI as a tool to strengthen society, not disrupt it. It invests heavily in AI governance — not to slow AI down, but to collectively build global trust so adoption accelerates. Beijing’s AI ambition is to augment humanity, not impose AI on it.
The US AI model:
IP-guarded: American AI companies build proprietary systems surrounded by deep moats. Their foundation models are protected, closed, and monetised through APIs. (In other words, you cannot just use it, you have to use a bridge between yourself and the model) The strategy is clear: defend the intellectual property at all costs.
Investment-driven: American tech companies rely on locking us in with subscription models to recover billions in investment. The whole stock value of their company relies on future returns. AI became a business model, not a public good as it started off with at OpenAI.
Infrastructure-focused: The US sees AI through the lens of chips, compute power, hyperscalers, and AGI. Performance is the priority. Bigger models, more GPUs, more data, more power. The goal is to build the most capable frontier models on earth.
Imposing: The official US AI Action Plan frames AI as a zero-sum game that the US must win to preserve its global technological dominance. The approach is competitive, not collaborative, and explicitly prioritises American leadership over global governance.
It is clear that we have two models, two futures and no AI war.
Once you understand the A’s and the I’s, the myth of a US-China “AI war” collapses instantly. The US and China are not competing for the same markets, users, or outcomes. One wants global dominance. The other wants mass adoption and global service capacity.
You cannot have a war when you are playing different games.
The real competition is not China versus the US.
And on each of these axes, China and the US are positioned on opposite sides. In my old career in IT, we said, “Sell the sizzle, not the steak.” China has turned that on its head. They are giving the steak away.
Europe’s blind spot
Europe continues to look mainly toward the US, absorbing American narratives and ignoring Chinese realities. This is very dangerous. Because if Europe chooses only proprietary American AI, we risk becoming digitally colonised by systems we cannot control — something I explicitly warn about in China’s Next Miracle.
Meanwhile, China’s approach to regulation, governance, safety, and AI for public good is actually far closer to European values. But geopolitical distrust prevents forward-looking dialogue. Europe is staring at the wrong player once again.
China’s Next Miracle — and our choice
What I witnessed at the book launch was encouraging: people are beginning to appreciate that China is no longer copying the West. It is flipping the innovation model — performing a global Fosbury flop. AI is accelerating China’s transformation.
There is no war. There is only a profound divergence of models. And the future will be shaped by those who dare to see it clearly.
So the real question for business and all technology is: Do we dare to jump differently? Do we dare rethink innovation the way China is?
The AI future will not be decided by who has the best or biggest AI model, but by who dares to flip the model entirely. The AI industry in the US will bubble. In China, it will soar.
A worldwide move to multipolarity is not easy. From that perspective, it behooves us (me specifically, as I have no patience for the fiddle and faddle) to be more patient, more understanding, and more resolute. There is nothing better on the table, and I cannot think of anything better in terms of global governance, fairness, equality, and sovereignty. The opportunity is there, right in front of us.
As I said, over the past year, in one way or another, we have seen countries, groupings, governments, and governance wrestle with the question of which regional pole to align with. These smaller non-civilizational countries will spin like spinning tops, one day here, the other day there. Yes, one has to be active in your region, but it is not necessary to ally in a multipolar world because the world is your oyster. Alliances shift according to national interest. The values remain, once these little countries learn it. Pakistan, which has been acting strangely in recent months, is seeking regional supremacy and has begun a move, as they think they are playing chess or something. They will lose, as there is no place for supremacy in a multipolar world.
PAKISTAN’S PLAN FOR NEW SOUTH ASIAN BLOC
Pakistan’s latest pitch to form a new regional grouping — potentially including Bangladesh, China, and other South Asian states — signals its desire to rewrite the regional playbook at a moment when the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is effectively frozen after Op Sindoor.
But can a “SAARC-minus-India” really work?
Deputy PM Ishaq Dar argues that South Asia has been stuck in “zero-sum thinking.” With India–Pakistan dialogue frozen for over a decade, Pakistan sees little value in waiting for SAARC to revive.
Pakistan senses an opening:
Pakistan–Bangladesh relations have warmed.
Bangladesh–India ties are strained after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster and her subsequent refuge in India.
China’s regional influence continues expanding across connectivity, infrastructure, and security.
Pakistan’s proposal remains more aspirational than actionable. Smaller states may welcome dialogue on trade, climate, or connectivity — but formal membership in a bloc perceived as “China-backed” or “India-excluding” carries real political risks.
Countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan could show tentative interest in specific initiatives, especially economic ones. But none are likely to openly join a grouping seen as sidelining India.
So, what are the options for a country like Pakistan in this fast-moving, multipolar world? It is hard and harsh, but to become honorable, they must mend fences with India. (Otherwise, Trump will see an opportunity and make another peace lol).
What I would suggest is that they go to the new mediation center China recently opened and mediate with India. Go with honor, go with honesty, and solve your problems, Pakistan. You are fresh meat for a color revolution, if it has not already happened. India as well. India has a greater implied responsibility here, and they are equally hardheaded.
Stop wasting the world’s time with an attempt at regional supremacy that impresses no one.
World leaders all together at SCO summit
Putin and Xi standing center-stage
A quarter of world’s total area, over 40% of GLOBAL population represented https://t.co/v8vDqv7SFG pic.twitter.com/8UnmvpuO39
— RT (@RT_com) August 31, 2025
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Unprecedented excitement surrounds SCO
Curious crowds have gathered outside the Conference Center
All eyes on the biggest SCO summit. There are 3,000 journalists covering the events.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the SCO summit.
At the meeting, Putin said he was “glad to talk” with the Armenian prime minister, as many issues had accumulated “both bilateral and regional.”
Pashinyan called Armenia and Russia “brotherly countries.”
Putin has not yet communicated with Azerbaijani President Aliyev, but according to Ushakov, members of the Russian and Azerbaijani delegations have already been in contact.
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China and India should strengthen cooperation and deepen mutual trust, Chinese President Xi Jinping says during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin.
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As long as China and India remain committed to a partnership based on cooperation rather than rivalry, and view each other as opportunities for development rather than threats, their relations will steadily progress, Xi adds, adding that border issues should not define their ties.
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the talks he noted that Minsk was adopting Chinese experience in many areas.
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Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, did not remember the time correctly and arrived late at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s opening ceremony, leading to him being absent at the photoshoot in Tianjin
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Chinese President Xi Jinping during his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:
China and Turkey should expand cooperation in the field of security and counter-terrorism.
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Post from Imam Khamenei’s official account on X in Chinese on the occasion of the Iranian president’s trip to China to attend the Shanghai summit:
“Iran and China are two countries with ancient civilizations on the two sides of Asia that have the power to create a transformation in the region and the world. Implementing all the various dimensions of the strategic partnership agreement will help to pave the way for this.”
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Intermission
“IT WAS DEEP AND NASTY! I started yelling… Who did this, and I want to find out now!”
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HISTORIC: Armenia & Pakistan establish diplomatic ties at China’s SCO Summit FMs sign documents on sidelines in Tianjin. Pakistan is the only country that doesn’t recognize Armenia
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The alliance of the elephant, dragon, and bear. The media publish a characteristic photo of Xi, Putin, and Modi at the SCO summit in China.
Western journalists are already writing about how Russia and the countries of the “Global South” demonstrate unity amid contradictions within the West.
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Turkey gets a cold welcome.
Turkey’s president was among those who came to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. A meeting took place between the presidents of China and Turkey, during which, according to Turkish sources, “an agreement was reached on regular consultations and cooperation between the two countries.”
Like India, Turkey—shunned by the West and its policies—is searching for a foothold in the new global order. Erdoğan’s unstable actions, playing both sides, has failed to secure Turkey a defined or guaranteed role in the world’s future. On one hand, Turkey is a NATO member; on the other, it fights against Russia in Ukraine while expecting the East to open its doors.
Against this backdrop, Erdoğan’s requests to China’s president were noteworthy, particularly his desire to join the massive Belt and Road Initiative—a project the West is actively trying to disrupt. However, China’s biggest issue is the tens of thousands of Uyghur Wahhabi terrorists under Erdoğan’s command, acting as NATO’s proxies to create chaos in China. This issue overshadows everything else.
One of Erdoğan’s key requests was Turkey’s involvement in Syria’s reconstruction with investment from China but China reportedly shown no interest. The terrorist government in Syria, backed by the U.S. and harboring over 8,000 Chinese Uyghurs within its ranks, is not a viable partner for Chinese investment. Similarly, China shows little interest in investing in Turkey itself.
Accordingly, the joint statement following the meeting noted: “The meeting also covered recent developments in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, potential joint steps for Syria’s reconstruction, and regional and global issues.”
Xi suggested to Turkey that the sides should expand practical cooperation, which means .. “Let me see your acts, not your narrative”, and this is how you do it! Xi said: “We must closely coordinate our efforts within such formats as the United Nations, the Group of Twenty, and the SCO, pool efforts to maintain international order and rules, defend international justice and law, contribute to peace and stability in the world,”
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Speaking at the reception for leaders attending the SCO summit in Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted the organization has assumed great responsibilities “for safeguarding regional peace and stability, and for boosting development of various countries in a world of increasing uncertainties and accelerated changes.”
He added he was certain that the gathering would be a success and result in increased international cooperation.
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The pomp and circumstance is over, and the real work has started. Xi has met with:
Mr Putin is equally as busy. Now imagine that these two leaders each have three or four key supporting diplomats, who know exactly what their leaders want to accomplish, and you can see the sheer amount of hard work and business being attended to. Then imagine that these two leaders work in concert, and you will be able to see the world-changing work that is being done.
The Joint Declaration of the Tianjin summit has been accepted and signed.
At this point we can accept that this summit is the moment where a new World Leadership took the spotlight in a real and material form. China-Russia-India took the undisputed role, not only as leaders of their countries but as the current world leaders. This summit is where we have the words, the declarations, the speeches and the footage that the world has changed. It is The Moment. Modi could still be considered as an estwhile prodical son, returning to the fold.
Now it is for collecting the speeches and the most important of those will be posted up today. Kim Jong-un is on his way to China now and the decisive and thundering full stop to this new world leadership will be the Chinese Military Parade. We can still look forward to Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping talks.
Take a look at this vivid demonstration of multi-polarity. Although ostentatious as it should be at a major summit, all are equally important.
This is how tea and dessert were served to the SCO participants pic.twitter.com/q34isaJvck
— RT (@RT_com) September 1, 2025
This stunning visual comparison will hammer in who the barbarians are.
Eurasian multipolarity
vs.
American vassal system pic.twitter.com/dA29jnqJwX
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 1, 2025
Before we leave this thread for the next phase of the summit, let’s take a look at graqndpa Luka’s comments, and we can point out that these comments were fully endorsed by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin as well.
Lukashenko outlines proposals at SCO Summit
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko presented his views on SCO development, according to Belarusian news agency Belta:
Indivisible security in Eurasia — recalled Minsk’s initiative to draft a Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century, suggesting the SCO as a main platform for discussion.
SCO Development Bank — called for its creation, along with a unified educational platform.
Security structures — welcomed work on a Universal SCO Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats and an Anti-Drug Center, urging their early launch.
Independent financial mechanism — stressed the need for an SCO system able to finance cross-border projects, offset sanctions, stimulate use of national currencies, and support cooperation in logistics, energy, digital transformation, and AI.
Trade growth — noted that SCO trade already exceeds $2 trillion and should further expand, with joint funds, digital economy, and green technologies as priorities.
Expansion — Minsk supports SCO enlargement with new members and partners who share the “Shanghai Spirit”: mutual respect, trust, equality, dialogue, and pursuit of common development.
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Although many challenges exist, we are now in a new world —a fairer world, a truly multipolar world. Let’s reiterate the qualities that Luka mentions: mutual respect, trust, equality, dialogue, and the pursuit of common development. This is a world that considers the people and the citizens of the leading countries as important as the highest dignitaries. Take a moment to take that in and walk with your head held high. You are part of this.
Still have questions? Those will be answered once we have sight of China’s proposal of a New Global Governance, which will be the Governance of MultiPolarity.
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