Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
As the U.S. focuses on Iran, another global power may be quietly gaining ground.
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei breaks down how China could benefit from the conflict without firing a single shot, and what it means for the balance of power between Washington and Beijing.
Is the Iran war reshaping the global order in ways most people aren’t seeing?
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction: Implications of the Iranian war on China
0:38 - China's long-term strategy to displace US dominance
1:04 - Military lessons: Studying US warfare and depleted stockpiles
2:13 - Energy: China's stockpiling and transition to alternative energy
3:33 - Diplomatic optics: China as a stable alternative to the US
4:52 - The Art of War vs. The Art of the Deal: China's patient approach
5:47 - The AI race: US vs. China for super intelligence
7:19 - Rare earth minerals: China's supply chain dominance
9:01 - Conclusion: Why China feels they won a war they didn't fight
As the U.S. focuses on Iran, another global power may be quietly gaining ground.
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei breaks down how China could benefit from the conflict without firing a single shot, and what it means for the balance of power between Washington and Beijing.
Is the Iran war reshaping the global order in ways most people aren’t seeing?
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction: Implications of the Iranian war on China
0:38 - China's long-term strategy to displace US dominance
1:04 - Military lessons: Studying US warfare and depleted stockpiles
2:13 - Energy: China's stockpiling and transition to alternative energy
3:33 - Diplomatic optics: China as a stable alternative to the US
4:52 - The Art of War vs. The Art of the Deal: China's patient approach
5:47 - The AI race: US vs. China for super intelligence
7:19 - Rare earth minerals: China's supply chain dominance
9:01 - Conclusion: Why China feels they won a war they didn't fight
