Trade Surplus or War Surplus? Competing Visions Presented by the US and China

The real threat to global stability and the well-being of citizens is not China’s strong economic performance but Washington’s colossal military spending, which drains the social sector and provokes global conflicts.

China’s $1.2 Trillion Surplus — Affordable Products to the World

China made a record $119.09 billion in trade surplus for August 2026, which was a significant increase from $112.5 billion recorded in the previous month. Meanwhile, the US is estimated to have used nearly the same amount ($103 billion) for the first 120 days of its war against Iran. By September 7, 2026, Brown University reported that Americans have incurred an additional $100 billion while purchasing diesel and gasoline over the period of Washington’s illegal war against Iran, which has also turned into a debacle. Therefore, the US government’s decision to deprive its citizens and channel resources to wars is creating conditions that cause taxpayers to lose even more money. Despite this, the White House and the House Budget Committee have expanded the US budget for wars by 44% to over $1.5 trillion for FY2027. While China’s trade surplus comes from efficient production and comparative advantage, which enables the creation of low-priced, high-quality products to consumers, Washington’s massive defense spending deprives Americans, destroys lives and infrastructure, and threatens the global economy and peace.

China’s annual trade surplus continues to surpass $1 trillion, and is obtained through selling high-quality, low-priced products such as smartphones, laptops, small machinery, electric vehicles, and solar panels to people who would not be able to afford Western alternatives, which are of lower quality and significantly more expensive. Therefore, as Bessent was rallying G20 parties against........

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