Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

As dawn broke, aftershocks from the East China Sea swept across the globe.

From the New York Stock Exchange to the City of London, from the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo to the Chancellor's Office in Berlin, all the nerve centers of international politics and economics are frantically digesting the same message: China is no longer the China of yesterday.

The New York Times front-page headline: The Eastern Dragon Awakens—Ten Aircraft Carriers Change the Balance of Power in the Pacific

The Times editorial: The world needs to re-understand China, but is the West ready to accept the new reality?

Asahi Shimbun Emergency Special: The Biggest Strategic Miscalculation Since the War - How Should We Deal with This Powerful Neighbor?

On social media, the hashtag #NightInTheEastChinaSea# topped the trending charts in 37 countries. Blurry drone footage was repeatedly analyzed: the ten massive ships lined up in international waters, the twelve black fighter jets streaking across the night sky like ghosts, and the enormous wake created by the USS Roosevelt as it made a hasty turn…

Every detail is revolutionizing our understanding of the world.

"The assessment of China's military strength must be completely overhauled."

The video conference of intelligence chiefs from 27 countries at the Europa Union Strategic Analysis Center has lasted seven hours. The first sentence of the final report set the tone.

"Based on existing data, the Chinese Navy has at least ten aircraft carriers, all of which are nuclear-powered platforms with a displacement of over 100,000 tons. Its sixth-generation fighter jets have formed a complete combat system, with performance parameters that comprehensively surpass those of the Free Nation's Apollo sixth-generation fighter jets, and some indicators approaching theoretical limits."

"More importantly," the head of the German intelligence agency, who chaired the meeting, said gravely, "China's electronic warfare capabilities are at least a generation ahead of ours. The ability to paralyze all the combat systems of an aircraft carrier battle group while fully complying with international rules—that's a capability we don't yet possess."

The conference room was deathly silent.

Everyone knows what this means.

If China wanted to, they could turn any European fleet into floating scrap metal without launching a single missile.

"Immediately initiate comprehensive sanctions against China." The fabulous representative broke the silence first. "Technological blockade, trade restrictions, financial isolation—their momentum must be curbed. A strong China is not in Europe's interest."

I second that.

"agree."

"But we must be careful about the scale," the representative from the United States cautioned. "We still need China's market and supply chain. We cannot afford the cost of a complete decoupling."

"Then let's strike precisely," the German representative decided. "Semiconductors, aerospace, advanced materials, artificial intelligence—these key sectors will be subject to a complete embargo. At the same time, freeze Chinese assets in Europe and restrict financing channels for Chinese companies."

The resolution was quickly formed.

Almost simultaneously, in Washington, D.C., in the White House Situation Room.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

The president's roar echoed in the soundproof conference room, and coffee cups on the table were swept to the floor, shards of porcelain and brown liquid splashing everywhere.

"How could China possibly possess sixth-generation fighter jets that are more advanced than ours! How could they possibly have so many aircraft carriers! What are their intelligence agencies doing? With billions in funding every year, this is the kind of surprise they give us?!"

On either side of the oval conference table, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor, the Director of the CIA… everyone had their heads down, and no one dared to speak.

Satellite photos were scattered on the table, clearly showing the outlines of the ten aircraft carriers in the East China Sea—brand new models that had never appeared in any intelligence briefings before.

"We, the Free Nation, are the world's hegemon, number one in the world!" The president leaned forward, his hands on the table, his eyes bloodshot. "No one can surpass us, especially China!"

He surveyed the room, his voice shifting from a roar to a chilling threat: "Immediately contact all allies and initiate comprehensive sanctions against China. Technology, trade, finance, diplomacy—I want China to feel the price it pays for challenging the world order."

"Mr. President," the Secretary of State began cautiously, "we still need China's cooperation in areas such as climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, and counterterrorism..."

"Cooperation?" the president sneered. "When they were 'escorting' us out with their fighter jets, did they ever think about cooperation? Execute orders!"

"Yes."

"Furthermore," the president pointed to the CIA director, "order our research departments to decipher all those artifacts obtained from space. I don't care how difficult they are to understand; I want results! We must regain technological superiority over China!"

The CIA director's expression changed slightly: "Mr. President, research on those alien artifacts is still in its early stages. Forcing a solution could carry uncontrollable risks..."

"Risk?" the president interrupted him. "The biggest risk is letting China ride roughshod over us! Execute orders!"

The order came down like a mountain.

Within just 24 hours, the sanctions imposed by the Free Nation and its allies rained down on China like a storm.

The semiconductor embargo has been upgraded to the highest level, prohibiting the export of all equipment, materials, and technologies used in manufacturing processes below 14 nanometers to China.

All aerospace cooperation has been suspended, the International Space Station has refused visits by Chinese astronauts, and all satellite launch service contracts have been cancelled.

The embargo list for high-end materials has been tripled, ranging from specialty alloys to carbon fibers, and from superconducting materials to optical crystals.

Financial sanctions were launched simultaneously: three major Chinese banks were kicked out of the SWIFT system, 320 Chinese companies were forced to delist from European and American stock markets, and the overseas assets of 17,000 Chinese citizens and their families were frozen.

"From this day forward, we must curb the momentum of China's development."

At a press conference held at the Brussels headquarters of the European Union, the rotating president announced: "An overly powerful China is not conducive to the stability of a multipolar world order."

The words had barely left his lips when the Kremlin of the White Bear Kingdom reacted in a completely different manner.

"Contact the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately," the president ordered his staff. "Express our desire to deepen our strategic partnership. Suggest an emergency summit to discuss comprehensive cooperation in areas such as military technology, energy security, and financial settlement."

"Mr. President, the West may be unhappy about this..."

"The West?" The president smiled. "When they sanctioned us, they didn't consider our feelings. Now that China is demonstrating such power, it's the perfect time for us to strengthen cooperation—perhaps we can obtain some...key technologies from China."

He paused, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "Tell China that we can trade energy and food for their aircraft carrier and fighter jet technology. Of course, they certainly won't give us the core technologies, but even some peripheral technologies will be enough for us to narrow the gap with the West."

The world order was dramatically reshaped overnight.

Pro-China countries are overjoyed.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan immediately sent a congratulatory message, saying, "The strength of our Chinese brothers is our strength. We look forward to deeper cooperation in the field of defense."

North Korea issued a statement: "China's victory is a common victory for all countries that resist hegemonism."

Iran, Venezuela, Syria... one after another, countries sanctioned by the West seem to have seen hope of breaking the encirclement.

Meanwhile, countries hostile to China fell into collective panic.

The Ministry of National Defense held an emergency meeting that lasted a full day, and the final conclusion was that all disputes must be handled with calm and restraint until China acquires military strength equivalent to that of China.

Taiwan authorities held a security meeting overnight, after which it was reported that several radical officials were transferred from key positions.

The Indian Defense Minister canceled the planned border inspection and instead studied the experiences and lessons learned from China's military modernization.

As for those countries that are on the fence—Southeast Asian countries, Middle Eastern oil-producing countries, and Latin American resource-rich countries—they have all launched emergency policy assessments to re-evaluate their stance between China and the United States.

Within China, the situation was quite different.

The live broadcast of the East China Sea Night was shown on CCTV News Channel 24 hours a day. In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, excited crowds gathered in front of every screen.

"Ten aircraft carriers! My God, I always thought we only had one!"

"Those black fighter jets are so cool! They're over Mach 8, the Free Country's F-22s can't even catch their exhaust fumes!"

"The country kept this a secret! This is such a wonderful surprise!"

A sense of pride erupted like a volcano.

On Weibo, a long post by a retired veteran has been forwarded tens of millions of times:

"When I was in the military, our warships would go out on patrol and have to detour around foreign vessels. It wasn't that we were afraid, but that we weren't strong enough and were afraid of accidentally causing trouble for the country. But now... children, you were born in a good era. In this era, our aircraft carriers can go wherever they want, and our fighter jets can fly over any sky that dares to blockade us. This prosperous age is just as we wished."

At the end of the article is an old black-and-white photograph: several young sailors standing on an old frigate with the vast sea in the background.

Unlike the general public's jubilation, the Chinese leadership remained clear-headed and calm.

Emergency State Council meeting held in Zhongnanhai.

"Western sanctions have arrived, and they are more severe than anticipated," the head of the economic department reported. "Semiconductors, aerospace, finance... they want to strangle us."

The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense, but no one panicked.

Because everyone knows that China is no longer the country it was twenty years ago, which had to swallow its pride and exchange market access for technology.

"Since they want to play," a general sneered, "we'll play along. Over the years, we've solved almost all the problems that were holding us back. In semiconductors, we have the 'Spark' project led by Academician Lin Feng; in agriculture, we have the Shennong super rice; in energy, we have the Nuwa large-scale controlled nuclear fusion... Their sanctions are just forcing us to accelerate our domestic production."

"That's right." Another leader nodded. "We are not only not afraid of sanctions, but we will also retaliate against them. If they freeze our assets, we will confiscate their assets in China. If they impose an embargo on our technology, we will impose an embargo on their rare earth, lithium, and photovoltaic products. If they kick us out of SWIFT, we will accelerate the development of a digital currency settlement system."

The meeting lasted three hours.

The final resolution was tougher than anyone expected.

That afternoon, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an emergency press conference.

The spokesperson stood on the podium, with the enormous national emblem behind him. He spoke without a prepared speech, his gaze piercing, his voice resounding:

"China expresses its strong indignation and firm opposition to the unreasonable, illegal, and brutal sanctions imposed by certain countries."

"The right to development of China is the common will of 1.4 billion people, and no force has the right to deprive it of this right."

"We announce that, effective immediately, we will implement reciprocal countermeasures: freezing all illegal assets of relevant countries in China; prohibiting companies from relevant countries from participating in major engineering projects in China; ceasing the export of key strategic resources such as rare earth, lithium, and cobalt to relevant countries; and suspending all high-level exchanges with relevant countries."

Each time an announcement was made, the flashbulbs of the reporters in the audience went off like crazy.

The entire audience held their breath as the speaker uttered the last sentence.

"China is no longer the China of 120 years ago. We cherish peace, but we are never afraid of struggle. We have the firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capability to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests."

"Any attempt to contain China's development is doomed to failure."

After he finished speaking, there was a three-second silence at the press conference.

Then, thunderous applause erupted from the Chinese reporters' section.

The live broadcast signal reached all over the world.

At this moment, the whole world understood one fact:

That once powerful Eastern nation, which needed to bide its time and conceal its strength, has finally stood tall and declared to the world – I have arrived.