Historically, Western pop culture like punk and hip-hop defined rebellion. Now, imagery and music from East Asia—a region typically seen as conformist—are fueling global youth protests. Anime series like 'One Piece' and K-pop songs provide symbols of solidarity and courage for young activists worldwide.

Unlike the 1980s, when Japanese corporations were common antagonists in films like Die Hard, modern Hollywood avoids portraying China negatively. This is attributed to a desire to maintain access to China's lucrative box office, resulting in a pop culture landscape that doesn't reflect geopolitical tensions.

China's promotion of open-weight models is a strategic maneuver to exert global influence. By controlling the underlying models that answer questions about history, borders, and values, a nation can shape global narratives and project soft power, much like Hollywood did for the U.S.

A major cultural shift has occurred in China. Consumers have moved from coveting foreign brands like Starbucks and Apple as status symbols to proudly supporting domestic champions. This is driven by both national pride in local innovation and better value.

Beyond geopolitical tensions, Americans and Chinese are more culturally alike than any other peoples. Both societies are founts of entrepreneurial dynamism, hustle, and ambition. They share a belief in technological progress and see themselves as great world powers, creating a unique parallel between the two rivals.

Current anxiety surrounding China is largely confined to policy and financial circles, lacking the broad public and pop culture resonance that characterized the fear of Japan's economic rise in the 1980s, which permeated movies, media, and consumer attitudes.

China's most famous rapper built a massive following both at home and abroad. His music, celebrating the wealth of China's past economic boom, resonates with nostalgic domestic youth. Simultaneously, his sound and swagger are easily remixed for platforms like TikTok, creating a global fanbase that enjoys the "vibe" without understanding the lyrics.

As America's global dominance wanes, power is bifurcating into two distinct successor empires. China is winning the physical world of manufacturing and military hardware. Simultaneously, the internet is winning the digital world of media (AI, social) and money (crypto, smart contracts). This succession has already occurred but has not been fully priced in by global markets.

While the US diminishes its global standing through internal political chaos and attacks on institutions like science and universities, China is capitalizing on the void. The rise of globally recognized Chinese consumer brands like TikTok and BYD helps position China as a more stable and reliable international partner.