A view of Lujiazui, Shanghai Photo: VCG

Recently, several US media outlets, represented by The New York Times, have paid close attention to a series of China's development achievements. In a departure from past narratives that often smeared or distorted China, these articles have, in unison, described China as the "world's pre-eminent technological and economic superpower," even suggesting that "some of our senators need to get out more." One New York Times headline went so far as to declare, "In the Future, China Will Be Dominant." How should we view this shift? 

The achievements in China's economy, science and technology, infrastructure and other areas mentioned in these reports are undeniable facts. The once-popular "China collapse" rhetoric in Western media has repeatedly failed and has become an outdated narrative. Meanwhile, ever-closer exchanges between Chinese and foreign people continue to break through the West's "information cocoon" and dismantle the "gray-black filter," through which China has long been viewed. 
More and more people in the West, including quite a few US media figures, are now seeing a real, multidimensional and complete China, one that is credible, lovable and respectable.

"No force can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation from marching forward." Over the years, more and more people have gained a deeper understanding of this statement. Despite facing various attempts to contain, suppress, attack and smear China, people have witnessed Huawei breaking through chip blockades to launch its own 5G phones, China's new-energy vehicle (NEV) industry rising to the global forefront, and Chinese firms make continuous breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), and so on. For more than a decade, China's economic growth rate has ranked among the fastest in major economies, contributing about 30 percent to global economic growth, and has become a main trading partner for over 140 countries and regions. It is increasingly difficult for US media to openly deny these achievements, and for media organizations, doing so is almost tantamount to "losing credibility."

However, while objectively recognizing China's great achievements, some US media figures still have not fundamentally changed their mindset and perspective. For example, a New York Times column described China's NEV development as "downright scary," revealing a zero-sum mentality. The Wall Street Journal called DeepSeek "Jensen Huang's worst nightmare," even though Huang himself may not see it that way. Perhaps these perspectives and rhetoric are meant to alert the US, but they remain full of misunderstandings and misjudgments about China. In fact, China's development goal has never been to replace or confront any country, nor to compete with the US in a zero-sum game, but to constantly exceed itself, become a better China, and enable its people to live better lives, while benefiting the world.

The release of the white paper on the development of China's satellite navigation and positioning service industry a few days ago showed the world the vigorous development of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). However, some foreign commentators also claimed that the BDS "challenges the global status of the US' GPS." In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "China's technological innovation and industrial development never targets anyone, still less challenges anyone, and the BDS is developed by China as a global good for the world."

Such a vision is reflected in the BDS' goal of serving the world, in China's AI applications dedicated to an open-source development path, in China's generous sharing of precious lunar samples with other countries, and in the extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative. Open cooperation and shared benefits are not only China's development philosophy but also its significant contribution to the world.

"Not bent on praise for its bright colors, but on leaving its fragrance to all." Although there are more and more voices "praising" China in foreign media, the Chinese society should also be fully aware that we are still the world's largest developing country and the task of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation remains arduous. Currently, the whole country is implementing more than 300 tasks to further comprehensively deepen reforms, and is also scientifically planning the economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. China's development is a process of never being complacent and continuing to strive. Maintaining strategic focus and concentrating on managing its own affairs well, China's development always strides steadily forward, injecting continuous momentum into global prosperity.