“外媒论中国”第23期｜中国，怎么就酷起来了？

01

中国，怎么就酷起来了

原标题： How China Became Cool

发布机构：经济学人（The Economist）

关键词：软实力；国家形象

中文

近期，《经济学人》刊发了一篇题为《中国怎么就酷起来了》的文章，指出当今世界对中国的印象正在历经一场深刻的转变。这一变化并非源于自上而下的口号宣传或传统的官方外交，而是来自外国游客亲身体验所激发的真切共鸣。以美国网红主播“甲亢哥” Darren Watkins Jr.（IShowSpeed）为例，他的中国之行直播在全球范围内引发热烈反响。他所展示的中国，既科技先进、又充满人情味，还有深厚的文化底蕴，打破了西方媒体惯常塑造的刻板印象。从在长城上的后空翻，到在深圳试驾两栖电动车，他对中国的由衷赞叹打动了无数观众，成为“世界走近中国、惊艳于中国”的真实写照。

美国网红主播IShowSpeed的中国之行在海外视频平台收获大量关注

（图源：经济学人）

中国并非首次意识到软实力的重要性，但如今的特别之处在于，其国家形象的提升不再依赖刻意塑造，而是通过真实、自然的人文交流，自信而从容地展现出来。当中国在科技、基础设施、文化创意等方面取得实实在在的成就时，这种力量比任何宣传都更具说服力。从全球领先的电动车与无人机，到如 DeepSeek 这样的高阶人工智能平台，中国早已由“模仿者”转变为“引领者”。在文化领域，中国也在走出属于自己的路径：《原神》《黑神话：悟空》等游戏的国际走红，不仅展现了技术实力，也向世界传递了富有中国特色的叙事与审美自信。

数据也证明了这一转变并非偶然。疫情之后，中国在全球的声誉大幅回升，尤其在千禧一代与“00后”Z世代人群中，越来越多的人以更加开放、注重体验的态度重新认识中国。外国游客数量激增，民调中关于中国的积极评价不断上升，说明世界正在抛开旧有偏见，以全新的视角看待这个国家。同时，从 TikTok 的风靡，到“微短剧”形式的流行，中国文化产品正以轻盈、愉悦、富有创意的方式，影响着全球年轻人的日常生活。这种影响不再是单向输出的文化消费，而是一种更平等的文化共鸣。更重要的是，中国向全球敞开大门的姿态——简化签证流程、欢迎游客到来，这些务实举措所传递的信息非常清晰：让世界亲眼看看真实的中国，人们自然会被打动。未来国际舆论的走向，将不再被恐惧与对抗主导，而将由亲身经历、理性判断与人与人之间的真诚交流塑造而成。而中国，正以独特而坚定的方式，在这场全球理解的重建中，赢得属于自己的尊重与赞誉。

Short Summary

An article titled How China Became Cool recently published in The Economist suggests China's global image is experiencing a vibrant revival, not through scripted slogans or conventional diplomacy, but by the genuine excitement it stirs in foreign tourists. Darren Watkins Jr.’s (known as IShowSpeed) livestreams have gone viral across the globe not only for their spectacle, but for revealing a China the Western media barely gives a look in: a land of technology, friendliness, and cultural richness. Whether backflipping along the Great Wall or marveling at amphibious electric vehicles in Shenzhen, Watkins' compliments rings true for millions. His trip was evidence that when the world draws near to China, it cannot help but marvel.

Though China has always understood the potency of soft power, the new twist in its strategy today lies in the manner in which it so deftly merges people-to-people, organic interaction with national assertiveness. China no longer has to explain itself; its success in technology, infrastructure, and culture says more than any advertisement. The rise of Chinese-developed innovations, from world-leading electric vehicles and flying drones to cutting-edge AI platforms like DeepSeek, demonstrates China is no longer a follower but a leader. In entertainment, too, China is forging a new path. Games such as Genshin Impact and Black Myth: Wukong illustrate not just technical capability but also culturally grounded storytelling with universal resonance that reaches across borders.

The statistics tell the same story. China's global reputation has soared in the post-pandemic era, particularly with millennial and GenZ generations more focused on experience and openness than ideology. As foreign visits spike astronomically and overwhelmingly positive changes in global opinion polls, the world is now judging China for what it is—rather than in comparison to outdated stereotypes. Countries across the globe are engaging with Chinese social media like TikTok and taking on new formats like micro-dramas, again suggesting that China is not just selling products—it's selling happiness, harmony, and creativity. The state's open visa policy and warm welcome to tourists reflect a simple but powerful fact: when people see China for themselves, they leave impressed. The world's view of the future will be shaped not by fear or hostility but by facts, experience, and personal narratives.

02

中美难以达成全面贸易协议

原标题：Commentary: US and China slash tariffs but a grand trade bargain is still impossible

发布机构：亚洲新闻台（CNA）

关键词：中美关系

中文

亚洲新闻台发布文章分析了中美关税谈判的最新进展及对中国的影响，指出中方通过协调外交和策略性让步在谈判中取得阶段性成果，中方谈判的逻辑是以有限让步换取发展空间，同时巩固对关键领域的控制，为长期竞争奠定基础。

从中美初步谈判的结果上看，5 月 12 日宣布的关税调整超出预期，中国对美出口商品关税从 145% 降至 30%，美国对华关税从 125% 降至 10%，实现 90 天关税暂停，中方以最小经济代价换取关税显著降低，缓解中国出口压力，助力实现 5% 的年度增长目标，短期内可能刺激 5-6 月对华出口前置，提振经济。中国出口机械作为经济支柱的地位暂时稳固，避免贸易战对产业链的进一步冲击。

美国国际贸易法院阻止了美国总统特朗普在4月2日“解放日”宣布的关税政策生效，并裁定特朗普越权（图源：央视新闻）

这个结果与中国的谈判团队有很大的关系，中方由资深经济政策制定者何立峰领衔，辅以商务部、财政部副部长等专业官员，展现高度协调的谈判阵线，对比美方临时拼凑的团队更具战略连贯性。为了避免特朗普式社交媒体提前剧透，中方通过精心管理的外交沟通协调声明，以此来把握节奏，恢复波音飞机进口、美方降低中国小包裹关税等互信措施，为后续对话营造氛围，但均属低政治成本的象征性让步。

此次谈判，有了对美方认知的根本性转变，中方认为美方已失去 “善意谈判” 的基础，将当前缓和视为美方因国内经济压力的权宜之计，而非战略信任的开始。因此，中方在谈判过程中为长期博弈做了充足的准备，在重点资源方面，维持稀土出口管制框架，将许可证制度作为谈判筹码，既遵守停火协议，又为未来竞争保留 “关键材料武器”，体现 “战术妥协、战略自主” 的原则。利用 3 个月窗口期加速对美出口，缓冲内需压力，同时避免在核心制度（如 “中国制造 2025”）上让步，坚守经济主权。

总体而言，中方通过专业谈判团队和精准让步，在关税减免和国际形象上取得阶段性胜利，为经济稳定争取了时间窗口。然而，中美在意识形态、经济模式和全球影响力上的根本冲突未消，此次关税暂停仅是 “战略竞争中的战术间歇”，未来在科技、供应链、地缘政治等领域的博弈将更趋激烈。

Short Summary

This article from CNA analyzes the latest progress of the China-Us tariff negotiations and their impact on China. It points out that China has achieved phased results in the negotiations through coordinated diplomacy and strategic concessions. The logic of China's negotiations is to exchange limited concessions for development space, while consolidating control over key areas and laying the foundation for long-term competition.

Judging from the results of the initial negotiations between China and the United States, the tariff adjustment announced on May 12th exceeded expectations. The tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States were reduced from 145% to 30%, and the tariffs on US exports to China were reduced from 125% to 10%, achieving a 90-day tariff suspension. China obtained a significant reduction in tariffs at the minimum economic cost, easing the pressure on China's exports. To help achieve the annual growth target of 5%, it may stimulate the advance of exports to China in May and June in the short term and boost the economy. The position of China's export machinery as a pillar of the economy has been temporarily stabilized, avoiding further impacts of the trade war on the industrial chain.

This outcome is closely related to China's negotiation team. Led by senior economic policy maker He Lifeng, the Chinese side is supplemented by professional officials such as the vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce and the Vice minister of the Ministry of Finance, demonstrating a highly coordinated negotiation front. Compared with the makeshift team of the US side, it is more strategically coherent. To prevent Trump-style social media from revealing the plot in advance, China has adopted carefully managed diplomatic communication and coordination statements to control the pace, restore mutual trust measures such as Boeing aircraft imports and the US lowering tariffs on small packages from China, and create an atmosphere for subsequent dialogues. However, all these are symbolic concessions with low political costs.

This negotiation has brought about a fundamental shift in China's perception of the US side. China believes that the US has lost the basis for "good-faith negotiations" and regards the current easing as a stopgap measure by the US due to domestic economic pressure rather than the beginning of strategic trust. Therefore, during the negotiation process, China made adequate preparations for the long-term game. In terms of key resources, it maintained the framework of rare earth export control, used the licensing system as a bargaining chip in the negotiation, abided by the ceasefire agreement while reserving "key material weapons" for future competition, embodying the principle of "tactical compromise and strategic autonomy". Take advantage of the three-month window period to accelerate exports to the United States, buffer the pressure of domestic demand, and at the same time avoid making concessions on core systems (such as "Made in China 2025") to safeguard economic sovereignty.

Overall, through professional negotiation teams and precise concessions, China has achieved phased victories in tariff reduction and international image, buying a time window for economic stability. However, the fundamental conflicts between China and the United States in terms of ideology, economic model and global influence have not yet subsided. This tariff suspension is merely a "tactical break in strategic competition", and in the future, the competition in areas such as technology, supply chain and geopolitics will become even more intense.

03

中美攻守易势？

原标题：In the Future, China Will Be Dominant. The U.S. Will Be Irrelevant

发布机构：纽约时报（New York Times）

关键词：中美关系

中文

《纽约时报》发表的文章《未来中国将占主导地位，美国将变得无关紧要》指出，人们长期预言的“中国世纪”或许已经悄然开启，而特朗普可能连任总统的头几个月将是关键时刻。尽管美国在与中国达成的一项表面上的贸易休战中自称取得了胜利，但它实际上正在失去真正的战场——在全球创新和高科技产业中的领导地位。特朗普对关税和短期收益的执着正在削弱美国的长期竞争力，破坏其科研基础、高等教育体系，以及吸引全球人才的能力。

与之形成鲜明对比的是，中国正在迅速崛起。在电动汽车、人工智能、清洁能源和半导体等关键领域，中国凭借大规模的国家主导投资和战略规划，取得领先地位。这些进展正在形成一个技术和产业主导地位的良性循环。尽管中国的集中体制也面临诸如人口老龄化和房地产困境等现实挑战，但它展现出了高度的适应性和韧性。

特朗普依然将中国视为廉价商品的制造国，这种过时的观念使美国无法看清中国真正的雄心。关税并不会迫使中国采纳西方的经济模式，反而加快了中国对国家主导战略的坚定执行。

文章警告说，如果当前趋势持续，中国可能在高端制造和人工智能领域取得主导地位，并以自身为中心重塑全球供应链。而与此同时，美国则面临经济停滞的风险，成本上升、创新能力下降、产业竞争力减弱。要避免这一前景，美国必须立即采取行动：投资研发、支持创新、保持对全球人才的开放，并重建国际经济联系。21世纪的归属尚未确定——但留给美国改变轨迹的时间已经不多。

Short Summary

The article titled “In the Future, China Will Be Dominant. The U.S. Will Be Irrelevant.” published by New York Times argues that the long-anticipated "Chinese Century" may already be underway, with a pivotal moment marked by the early months of a potential second Trump presidency. While the U.S. claims victory in a superficial trade truce with China, it is losing the real battle—global leadership in innovation and high-tech industries. Trump’s focus on tariffs and short-term gains is undermining America’s long-term competitiveness by weakening its research base, higher education, and global talent attraction.

In stark contrast, China is rapidly gaining ground. It leads in key sectors like electric vehicles, AI, clean energy, and semiconductors, driven by massive state-led investments and strategic planning. These advances are creating a self-reinforcing cycle of technological and industrial dominance. China’s centralized system, though facing real challenges like an aging population and real estate woes, has proven adaptable and resilient.

Trump’s outdated view of China as a producer of cheap goods blinds the U.S. to the true scale of China’s ambitions. Tariffs won't force China to adopt Western economic models; instead, they accelerate China’s commitment to its state-driven strategy.

The article warns that if current trends continue, China could dominate high-end manufacturing and AI, reshaping global supply chains around itself. Meanwhile, the U.S. risks economic stagnation, with rising costs, shrinking innovation, and declining industrial competitiveness. To avoid this future, the U.S. must act now: invest in R&D, support innovation, remain open to global talent, and rebuild international economic ties. The outcome of the 21st century is still undecided—but time is running out to shape it.

04

《哪吒2》开启中国电影工业新时代

原标题：Ne Zha 2 starts a new era for China’s film industry

发布机构：澳门商讯（Macau Business）

关键词：中国文化产业

中文

澳门商业媒体发表的文章《哪吒2开启中国电影产业新时代》强调了《哪吒2》在文化和经济上的重要意义，认为这部电影是中国电影工业的重要里程碑。在2019年首部《哪吒》大获成功的基础上，《哪吒2》刷新了全球票房纪录，收入超过20亿美元，超越了好莱坞大片如《头脑特工队2》等作品。影片取材于中国古典名著《封神演义》，展示了中国通过现代、高质量叙事手法呈现丰富神话文化的日益增强的能力，并获得了国际观众的共鸣。

文章还将《哪吒2》与中国神话题材电子游戏《黑神话：悟空》进行类比，指出这两者都通过中国神话故事提升了中国的软实力和全球文化影响力。这些作品不仅激发了人们对中国媒体的兴趣，也鼓励非中文观众深入了解中国文学与神话。

（图源：Getty images）

最后，文章指出《哪吒2》象征着一个更广泛的发展趋势：中国的文化产业正变得更加自信，具备国际竞争力。通过投资反映国家故事和价值观的高质量作品，中国正在文化和经济领域双重发力，在世界舞台上展现自身的影响力。这部影片的成功也表明，国际观众正日益渴望多元视角，尤其是对中国经典与神话文化的兴趣正在不断上升。

Short Summary

The article published by Macau Business “Ne Zha 2 starts a new era for China’s film industry” highlights the cultural and economic significance of Ne Zha 2, a landmark achievement for China’s film industry. Building on the success of its 2019 predecessor, Ne Zha 2 has broken global box office records—surpassing $2 billion in revenue and outperforming major Hollywood productions like Inside Out 2. Inspired by the classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods, the film exemplifies China’s growing ability to present its rich mythology through modern, high-quality storytelling that resonates with international audiences.

The article draws a parallel between Ne Zha 2 and the video game Black Myth: Wukong, both of which use Chinese mythological narratives to expand China’s soft power and global cultural influence. These works not only drive interest in Chinese media but also encourage non-Chinese audiences to explore Chinese literature and mythology.

Ultimately, Ne Zha 2 symbolizes a broader trend: China’s cultural industries are becoming more confident and globally competitive. By investing in productions that reflect national stories and values, China is asserting itself on the world stage, both culturally and economically. The film’s success suggests a growing international appetite for diverse perspectives beyond Hollywood, and a rising interest in Chinese classics and mythology.

05

中美贸易战“让中国再次伟大”？

原标题：Will Trump make China great again?

发布机构：Hargreaves Lansdown

关键词：中美贸易战；中国的全球影响力

中文

十年前，特朗普首次提出“让美国再次伟大”的政治口号，然而颇具讽刺意味的是，其推行的贸易保护主义政策，或许在无意间为巩固中国的全球地位作出了更大贡献。根据英国金融服务机构Hargreaves Lansdown最新发布的一项研究，虽然特朗普重新挑起中美贸易摩擦，试图削弱中国在制造业领域的主导地位，但中国不仅成功应对了压力，反而进一步拓展了其经济影响力。尽管在最高达145%的报复性关税下，中国仍在实现5%的GDP年度增长目标的路线上稳步推进，充分展现出中国经济的韧性以及出口体系的高度灵活性。

贸易战并未令中国陷入孤立，反而加快了中国在亚太区域的整合进程及其对全球市场的深入开拓。目前，中国超过三分之一的出口流向亚太邻国，而这些国家普遍不愿追随美国陷入新的贸易纷争，特别是在自身亦曾遭受美方关税制裁的背景下。同时，中国制造商迅速调整布局，将部分生产环节外迁至越南、墨西哥等地，以维持对全球市场的稳定供给。这种具有前瞻性的战略灵活性，不仅帮助中国有效应对外部冲击，更进一步稳固了其在全球供应链中的核心地位。

与此同时，中国亦在积极推进全方位外交布局。包括习近平主席近期对东南亚及南美多国的访问在内，再加上中国主导投资建设的秘鲁钱凯港项目，均表明中国正主动谋划与发展中国家建立稳定、持久的经济伙伴关系。在当前美国对外政策日益不确定的背景下，这些举措更加凸显中国作为可信赖、负责任经济体的形象，也在悄然重塑全球贸易格局，使中国逐步成为新兴国际通道与合作网络中的主导力量。归根结底，那些原本旨在遏制中国的政策反而提升了中国的全球战略水平和国际影响力。中国通过展现强劲的经济实力、区域凝聚力与战略定力，不仅在维护自身核心利益，更在积极塑造一个更加多极化的世界秩序。从这个意义上看，特朗普发动的这场贸易战，某种程度上更接近于“让中国再次强大”，而非真正强化了美国的全球地位。

Short Summary

A decade ago, Donald Trump initially unfurled his “Make America Great Again” movement, yet paradoxically, his protectionism agenda is quite possibly doing more to cement China‘s position in the globe than reassert America’s. Hargreaves Lansdown has just published a study stating that even as Trump reignited a trade conflict with China in an attempt to erode China’s manufacturing dominance, China not only withstood the onslaught but continued to increase its economic footprint. In spite of the retaliatory tariffs of up to 145%, China still met its target of 5% growth last year, highlighting the resilience of the economy and the flexibility of its export chains. 

Far from isolating China, the trade wars have sped up its regional integration and outreach around the world. More than one-third of Chinese exports now head to Asia-Pacific neighbors, most of whom have scant interest in following Washington into trade wars – particularly since they themselves have fallen under U.S. tariff attack. Meanwhile, Chinese producers have also nimbly split their production lines, relocating factory operations to places like Vietnam and Mexico in order to keep tapping global markets. This type of strategic flexibility is working, enabling China not just to weather external shocks but to further consolidate its position in global supply chains. 

In the meantime, Beijing's diplomatic offensive, such as President Xi's recent visits to Southeast Asia and South America, along with initiatives such as the Chinese-supported Chancay port in Peru, speak of an active endeavor to establish long-term relationships. These initiatives, set against the backdrop of U.S. unpredictability, present China as a stable and reliable economic partner for the developing world. They also position China as a driving force behind new trade routes that bypass traditional U.S.-dominated channels – another subtle shift in the balance of global influence. In the end, the very policies designed to undermine China have instead sharpened its global game and boosted its influence. By showing economic prowess, regional dominance, and strategic brilliance, China is neither merely protecting its interests nor actively reshaping a new world order. Trump's trade war, in this sense, would be doing more to "make China great again" than empower America's own hand.

06

“中国制造2025” 使命已达

原标题：The lessons from China’s dominance in manufacturing

发布机构：金融时报（Financial Times）

关键词：中国制造2025

中文

英国《金融时报》近日刊文评析“中国制造2025”战略，指出这一产业政策已基本完成其核心目标——将中国建设为全球制造业强国。文章认为，该战略通过推动自主可控的全产业链体系，增强对外部干预的抵御能力，同时加深全球市场对中国产品的依赖，已有效达成其设定的使命。

文章指出，在近期同美国进行的这场针锋相对的贸易战中，中方旗帜鲜明地坚守了自身的立场，没有主动向特朗普的关税战让步，而是迫使美国主动回到谈判桌前并同意降低一度高达145%的关税。许多分析人士认为，或许正是因为美国意识到自己过于依赖从中国进口产品，从而不愿冒险继续加码贸易战。

（图源：央视新闻）

早在10年前，中国就清晰地认识到，强大的国家必须拥有强大的制造业。多年以来，中国通过一系列产业政策扶持、国家性补助和支持措施，再加上私企本身的创业精神和广阔市场中的激烈竞争，大幅提高了许多行业的市场占有量，在一些领域甚至赶上或超过了外国竞争对手的技术。包括轨道交通设备、电力设备、船舶制造、电动汽车等在内的行业目前已经拿出了极亮眼的表现，不过文章指出，中国在高端机床、航空航天装备、生物医药及高性能医疗器械等领域还有继续进步的空间。

文章也一如既往地质疑了中国制造业发展中存在的产能过剩、技术转移等问题。诚然，中国对于国内市场需求的把握仍有欠缺，同时产品对出口的依赖比较严重。因此目前看来，中国在维持对外出口的同时，需要进一步加深供给侧改革，从而释放内部消费潜力、扩大国内消费市场。这在一定程度上也可以有效缓解因投资导致的企业负债和财政赤字问题。

Short Summary

A recent Financial Times article discusses the strategic objectives of China’s industrial policy modeled on the “Made in China 2025” plan and argues that the initiative has largely achieved its mission of transforming China into a global manufacturing powerhouse. Designed to build a self-reliant and comprehensive industrial supply chain, resist Western interference, and increase foreign dependence on Chinese products, the plan is seen as effectively fulfilled by the time 2025 arrives.

The article notes that in the recent tit-for-tat trade war with the United States, China held its ground firmly, refusing to yield to Trump’s tariff pressures. Instead, it compelled the U.S. to return to the negotiating table and agree to lower tariffs that had once reached as high as 145%. Many analysts believe this outcome reflects U.S. recognition of its deep dependence on Chinese imports and its reluctance to escalate the trade war further.

China recognized as early as a decade ago that a strong nation must be underpinned by a strong manufacturing sector. Over the years, it has significantly boosted market share across numerous industries through targeted industrial policies, state subsidies and support, combined with the entrepreneurial spirit of private enterprises and fierce domestic competition. In sectors such as rail transport equipment, power infrastructure, shipbuilding, and electric vehicles, Chinese companies have posted impressive performance. However, the article points out that China still has room for improvement in areas like high-end machine tools, aerospace equipment, biopharmaceuticals, and advanced medical devices.

As in previous coverage, the article raises concerns over industrial overcapacity and issues related to technology transfer. Still, it acknowledges that China continues to struggle with understanding domestic demand, and its products remain overly reliant on exports. To address this, the article suggests China should deepen supply-side structural reforms to unlock internal consumption potential and expand its domestic consumer market. This shift would also help alleviate corporate debt burdens and fiscal deficits driven by investment-heavy growth strategies.