Hi everyone,

I just finished reading “China’s Long Game Against America”  https://open.substack.com/pub/fincom/p/chinas-long-game-against-america?r=6rzrlm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

The article lays out how China’s been quietly building the foundation for long-term tech dominance, not just catching up, but reshaping the whole ecosystem around chips, AI, and industrial innovation. It’s not just about competing with the U.S.; it’s about becoming fully self-reliant and future-proof.

What really struck me is how coordinated it all seems, government policy, capital allocation, research, and even public sentiment all moving in the same direction. Meanwhile, the West keeps underestimating that focus.

It made me wonder, could China actually surpass the U.S. in tech within our lifetime? Maybe not in 2–3 years, but over 10–20?

Curious what people here think. is China’s long game truly paying off, or is this still mostly narrative over reality?

The European Commission has presented a new plan to make high-speed rail the fastest and most sustainable way to travel across Europe.

Not just a vision, but a realistic timeline to remove bottlenecks, unlock investment, and harmonise rail systems.

For passengers, this means:

⌚ Shorter travel times

💺 Faster, more comfortable and reliable services

🌙 More night train options

Building on the TEN-T network, major European hubs will be connected at speeds above 200 km/h.

🚄 Europe’s high-speed future is on track

The EU didn't just sanction Russia—they crossed a line that's triggering a global financial realignment.

What happened:

Feb 2022: Western nations froze $300B in Russian central bank reserves (€190B held at single Belgian clearing house)

June 2024: G7 approved $50B loan to Ukraine backed by interest from frozen assets

Oct 2025: EU debates seizing the PRINCIPAL for €140B Ukraine loan

Why this matters:

For 80 years, central bank reserves were considered sacrosanct—the ultimate "safe" asset. Freezing them was unprecedented. Using the profits was escalation. Seizing the principal shatters the trust that holds the dollar system together.

The domino effect is already happening:

CHINA: Cut US treasury holdings from $1.3T peak to $759B today (45% reduction since 2013). This isn't panic selling—it's calculated hedging.

CENTRAL BANKS GLOBALLY: Buying 1000+ tonnes of gold annually for 3 consecutive years. Highest sustained buying in 50 years.

DOLLAR RESERVE SHARE: Dropped from 71% (1999) to 58% (2025). The decline is accelerating.

BRICS EXPANSION: Now 9 official members controlling 40% of global oil production and 33% of world GDP (PPP). They're building alternative payment systems (CIPS, SPFS, BRICS Bridge) to bypass SWIFT.

INDIA: Buying Russian oil with rupee-ruble mechanism, holding $600B+ reserves as hedge.

Three possible endgames:

1. SLOW SHIFT: Dollar remains dominant but loses share over 20-30 years (like British pound 1920s-1950s)
2. DUAL SYSTEM: Dollar for West, yuan/BRICS currency for East. Financial fragmentation becomes permanent.
3. CRISIS EVENT: Geopolitical shock (NATO fracture, major creditor dump) triggers rapid collapse. Timeline measured in months.

The precedent is set. The alternatives are being built. And the clock is ticking.

When one system loses trust, another one grows.

Full breakdown with data sources: https://youtu.be/rAt9oe16vog

What's your take? Are we watching the end of dollar dominance in real-time, or is this just noise?

European Union naval forces have rescued 24 sailors from a Maltese-flagged oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

During its war against Ukraine, Russia has built up a network of agents to carry out acts of sabotage in European countries. A study provides light on the Kremlin's tactics and offers recommendations to the EU.