In the rapidly evolving world of global economics and technological advancement, spending one year in China today can offer a perspective vastly different from a lifetime in America. The accomplishments of China in 2021 alone are staggering: from eradicating extreme poverty and achieving near-universal home ownership to mastering COVID-19 with a death rate significantly lower than America’s. In contrast, the U.S. grapples with persistent economic and social challenges. This blog post explores how a single year in China can encapsulate transformative progress, contrasting it with the slower pace of change observed in America, and reflecting on the profound implications of these differences.
The stats have been audited, and here’s China’s 2021 track record:
- Eliminated extreme poverty.
- Achieved 98% home ownership.
- Mastered Covid, with a death rate 0.6% of America’s.
- Sold $140 billion retail online in 24 hours. Amazon’s record is $5 billion.
- Made 55% of global energy savings.
- Generated enough renewable energy, 1 TW, to power every home in China.
- Produced a new billionaire and 300 millionaires every work day.
- Completed new train lines in seven countries, including Laos’ first.
- Ran 12,000 cargo trains to and from Europe, up 30% yoy.
- Joined RCEP, the world’s biggest trade pact.
- Launched the world’s first central bank digital currency.
- Grew GDP by $1+ trillion PPP, 4x America’s.
- Dominated scientific research and issued the most patents of any country.
- Built three exascale computers + one for AI.
- Brought two gas-cooled Pebble Bed nuclear power plants online.
- Brought a cheap, safe thorium reactor online (no expensive, toxic uranium).
- Certified a Covid treatment that reduces hospitalizations and deaths 78%.
- Became the world’s largest movie market.
- Built a programmable quantum computer 10,000x faster than Google’s.
- Operated the first integrated, 3,000-mile, commercial quantum secure network.
- Installed one-million 5G base stations. Tibet has better 5G service than New York.
- Communicated between satellites via lasers carrying 1,000x information of radio waves.
- Successfully fired the world’s most powerful solid-fuel rocket engine.
- Flew three hypersonic missiles around the planet.
- Released a fractional orbital bombardment missile while traveling 17,000 mph.
- Commissioned three warships simultaneously to become the biggest navy by far.
- Became the richest country on earth.
I will publish the 2022 list next week, and a 2023 half-year report next month.
Did reading the list make you pause and think? If it did, perhaps you would forward it to thoughtful friends.
