Sunday, February 9, 2025
A few days ago, someone I know said, "Health is the new wealth." The reasoning behind this is simple: your brain is part of your body, so by taking care of your body through exercise, you are also supporting your brain! Consider your cardio, strength, flexibility, and metabolic health— the better you feel, the longer you'll live. This is not only encouraging but also a reminder for us all.
This idea is central to book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey, which explores how exercise profoundly impacts brain health and overall well-being.
I've written about DeepSeek more than twice, yet I still feel there’s more to say. I’ve been trying to understand why the American tech world reacted with such shock to its emergence.
One explanation is the deeply ingrained belief that China is incapable of true innovation. In Silicon Valley, Chinese engineers are often seen as nothing more than highly skilled 打工仔 (dǎ gōng zǎi)—wage earners who work for others but never lead, never becoming visionaries like Sam Altman, Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs.
This reaction also reveals an unmistakable cultural arrogance—the assumption that technological breakthroughs should only come from the American-led Western world, while China can only produce imitators. While it’s true that the U.S. has long dominated the tech industry, assuming that this dominance is permanent or unchallenged is shortsighted.
But I believe the real reason for their shock is something deeper: they simply don’t understand China at all. In fact, they remind me of many Americans, including my children, who rely on American mainstream media to shape their perceptions of China.
For years, American media has filtered out anything that paints China in a positive light. As a result, even the most influential minds in Silicon Valley have an outdated, one-dimensional view of the country. To them, China is still just a land of cheap labor, endless manufacturing hubs, and suppliers of Walmart goods—not a nation brimming with entrepreneurial drive and creativity. Ironically, the very U.S.-led sanctions meant to suppress China have only strengthened its resilience and ingenuity.
A Chinese saying captures this well: 知己知彼，百战百胜—"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win every battle." I wish my children could take two lessons from this: first, whether as a nation or an individual, understanding your rivals is key to win the race. And second, pride comes before the fall. Arrogance blinds you to the strengths of your opponents, while complacency keeps you from pushing your limits.
If the American-led Western world continues to misjudge China, the real shocks are yet to come.