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In today’s world, power isn’t just about bombs, borders, or battleships. It’s about who builds the roads, controls the data, and sets the rules. For decades, the U.S. has been the undisputed global superpower. But now, China is rising, not by copying America, but by crafting its own playbook. Beijing is not just playing catch-up, it's changing the game. 1. China’s Global Gameplan: BRI & BRICS, Building a New World Order The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Since 2013, China has pledged or spent an estimated $1 trillion on infrastructure projects in over 150 countries. We’re talking about roads in Kenya, ports in Greece, railways in Indonesia. This is Beijing’s way of building influence—one bridge and one loan at a time. Example: In Sri Lanka, after defaulting on a Chinese loan, the country had to lease the Hambantota Port to China for 99 years. Critics call this “debt-trap diplomacy.” But perspective matters: For many poorer nations, China’s offer comes without lectures on democr...

Image: Donald Trump at Hershey PA on 12 15 2016 Victory Tour x 02.jpg by Michael Vadon licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). Available at Wikimedia Commons. Trump’s Madman Diplomacy: Bluff, Bully, or Brilliant? When Donald Trump speaks, the world listens — not because they always believe him, but because they’re never quite sure what he’ll say next. One moment he’s talking about buying Greenland, the next he’s suggesting the U.S. should take over the Panama Canal or make Canada the 51st state. It sounds absurd — and maybe that’s the point. This isn’t just random chaos. It’s part of a deliberate strategy known as the Madman Theory, and Trump has turned it into his signature move on the world stage. That’s Donald Trump on the world stage. Since returning to the White House in 2025, Trump’s been playing global politics like it’s a high-stakes poker game. He’s unpredictable, loud, and unapologetically bold. But here’s the real kicker: a...

The Rise and Fall of BRI Once a symbol of China’s rising power, the BRI is now facing some serious roadblocks. What went wrong? Chinese President Xi Jinping during a videoconference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2022. As the architect of the Belt and Road Initiative, his leadership now navigates the project through a period of re-evaluation and increasing global scrutiny. Attribution: Presidential Executive Office of Russia / Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 A few years ago, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was making headlines everywhere. It was huge. Trillions of dollars. Dozens of countries. Roads, railways, ports, and pipelines from Asia to Africa, Europe, and beyond. China called it a win-win for global development. Some saw it as the modern Silk Road. But fast forward to today, and things look... different. So, what happened to this big dream?

Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0. In a historic move, the United Kingdom has officially agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This decision follows a UK High Court ruling that dismissed an injunction attempting to block the agreement, allowing Prime Minister Keir Starmer to finalize the long-disputed deal. The Chagos Islands were controversially separated from Mauritius in 1965 during the decolonization period, leading to international criticism and legal challenges over the legitimacy of British sovereignty. The 2019 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated that the UK's administration of the islands was unlawful and that sovereignty should be returned to Mauritius. Strategic Interests Retained Under the terms of the new agreement, Mauritius gains formal sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. However, the UK and the United States will retain joint operational control ...

Image: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in November 2017. Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons. While the world was busy watching trade wars and tech races, China quietly launched a different kind of offensive-one that’s reshaping the balance of power at sea. China has quietly but decisively taken command of the global shipbuilding industry—and with it, a growing influence over the world's maritime order. Once a minor player with just 5% of the global market in the early 2000s, China now accounts for over 53% of global shipbuilding value as of 2024. In contrast, South Korea and Japan — once the industry giants — now hold about 42% combined. The United States, remarkably, contributes less than 1%, highlighting its near absence from the commercial shipbuilding race. This is not just an economic shift; it's a strategic transformation with serious military implications. China’s Rapid Rise: More Than Just Numbers The rise of China in shipbuilding didn’t happen overnight. It’s the product...